Structuring Your Design Data Management to Avoid Design Missteps

Mark Forbes
|  Created: April 10, 2017  |  Updated: October 27, 2020

Structurer votre gestion des données pour éviter les faux pas dans la conception

When it comes to PCB design, one very important aspect of the overall process is proper data management and documentation. While the immediate consequences may not be as apparent, mismanagement of your data can have both a direct and indirect effect on your project and design. Proper implementation of data management and documentation ensures the organization, traceability, accountability and reproducibility of your design data. Read on to learn more.

What Happens If a Proper Design Data Management System is Not Incorporated into the PCB Design Project?

While the road to project completion and production is the ultimate goal, getting there often requires very close attention to the data management and documentation process. Why is it so important to incorporate this methodology into planning? Without a well-established, transparent system in place, it becomes extremely difficult to ensure the integrity of data and documentation. This can have detrimental effects on the outcome of the PCB design project and future designs.

I see bad design meme

Don’t create bad designs that will haunt your predecessors

Here are some of the challenges engineers encounter without a structured design data management system in place:

  • Managing data integrity with increased design complexity
  • Exchanging the correct data
  • Keeping workflow intact
  • Managing data sets and ECO changes

Mitigating these issues, however, is possible by incorporating a management and documentation system that can effectively (and accurately) funnel and maintain information automatically.

Re-prioritize Your Design Data Management

With all of the challenges that can arise in the data management and documentation process, it’s clear that implementing a structured system into the PCB design plan is key. Without it, you run the risk of unreliable information, a disorganized workflow, and difficulty managing any necessary changes. A unified system provides the team with a clear vision as to what the design intent is, keeping them in the loop with automated updates and reinforcing accountability, to ensure your PCB design deadlines are met.

Software screenshot of commenting on design elements

Altium Screenshot: Easily communicate design changes

Interested in learning more about the benefits of proper management of data and documentation for your PCB design project? Download a free white paper to learn how Altium Vault® can facilitate the design data management process.

About Author

About Author

Mark Forbes is Director of Product and Persona Marketing at Altium.  He has been involved with marketing PCB design software for the last 11 years. He has also worked in the semiconductor space, networks, embedded software design, and was editor of an electronics trade magazine.

Mark earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University and did MBA work at the University of Santa Clara. He has two patents and has written more than 130 technical and business articles as well as three books, including a digital electronics textbook. In his spare time, Mark enjoys photography, hiking, fishing and travelling.

Related Resources

Related Technical Documentation

Back to Home
Thank you, you are now subscribed to updates.