Most design engineers in electronic fields have a very good understanding of printed circuit board design. They understand the theory and the practice and they may even complete small in-house printed circuit board development projects.
As with most aspects of design and development, there is a difference in having a good understanding and a working knowledge of a specific aspect of a project and having actual expertise. In-house teams typically have a good understanding but lack the day to day application of that technical knowledge.
There are some very good reasons why even top in-house design teams will outsource for printed circuit board design. Simple mistakes and oversights can cause havoc on a project, which can end up with disastrous results.
Here is some important consideration when deciding if an in-house or specialized printed circuit board design team is your best option:
* Speed of design – the experts in printed circuit board design, have the experience and expertise to efficiently set up the basics of any design. They also have the latest in software that provides advanced design aspects that may not be available on in-house software applications. Each of these factors can help to speed up the design process without compromising on other aspects of the project.
* Resources – often in-house design teams are not using their human resources effectively. They may have their top engineer working on PCB design but, if this is not his or her area of expertise, their time is not being spent where they can do the most good. By outsourcing the PCB design to the experts, the in-house experts are free to focus on their areas of specialization.
Finally, with a top company offering PCB design, everything will be completed and ready on the agreed upon timeline. This will include development, assembly, testing and actual prototype development, allowing your project to move ahead.
