Printed circuit boards, PCBs, are the backbone of electronics products, providing the electrical system upon which the performance, life span, and reliability of the end product depend. When designed correctly, products with high-quality circuitry have lower field failure rates and fewer field returns. As a result, products can be produced at lower cost and higher profit. To produce high-quality PCBs on time, without the penalty of added design time and high rework costs, it is important to detect design and circuit integrity issues early in the design process. To get products out the door quickly and reliably it makes sense to automate the process with design tools, but how do you ensure design success? What things should you look for to maximize design efficiency and product quality? Of course your tools should be intuitive, easy to use, and powerful enough to overcome complex design challenges, but what else should you look for? There are several steps you can take to ensure PCB design success.
