I would like to get an idea for how many EE's layout their own PCBs. Where I work, the EE's author the schematics, provide some layout guidence for critical nets (high current/frequency, etc.) and parts placement and utlimately act as a checker for the final layout. The latter ususally ends up being multiple time consuming checking iterations. This process has some inate inefficiencies due to the amount of detail that is communicated between the engineer and pcb designer and all the checks and rechecks that occur. It seems to me that the process of designing a circuit board from start to finish would be much faster and more cost effective (due to the improved efficiency) if the engineer were to handle the pcb layout. Is this a common practice in industry?
- posted
16 years ago