The Importance of PCBA DFM Inspection and Its Guidelines

Design for Manufacturability (also sometimes known as design for manufacturing or DFM) is the general engineering practice of designing products in such a way that they are easy to manufacture. DFM describes the process of designing or engineering a product in order to facilitate the manufacturing process in order to reduce its manufacturing costs. DFM will allow potential problems to be fixed in the design phase which is the least expensive place to address them.

As a PCBA Designer you have to manage a variety of different requirements and expectations. There are electrical, functional, and mechanical aspects to consider. In addition, the PCB layout has to be produced in a timely manner, with the best possible quality, at the lowest possible cost. And through all of these requirements, you also need to factor in DFM (Design for Manufacturability). It’s a big part of the PCB design process, and one which can frequently cause problems if not done properly.

Top 11 DFM Check Guidelines

• Material Selection

• Impedance

• Via Structures

• Trace and Space

• Drills and Padstacks

• Surface Finish

• Via Treatments

• Mechanical Features

• Thieving (External)

• Thieving (Internal)

• Even Copper Distribution on Copper Layers