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PCB Design Outputs & Documentation

Make sure your manufacturer understands your design intent with complete and accurate design outputs and drawings. Browse our library of resources on documenting your PCB design to ensure defect-free manufacturing with high yield. Topics covered include creating your bill of materials, generating manufacturing data, and file formats.

Overview of PCB Design Output Files Generating Gerber Files Push to Manufacturing with Altium 365 Project Release Design Documentation Features in Altium Designer
PCB Design Excellence Through BOM Management PCB Design Excellence Through BOM Management Effective Bill of Materials (BOM) management has emerged as a cornerstone of PCB design excellence. As products across markets utilize new technologies and more complex components, the role of BOM development and management has evolved from a basic listing task to a complex and strategically important job. This shift is reshaping how companies approach PCB design, influencing everything from initial concept to final production. A comprehensive Read Article
Supply Chain Optimization Altium 365 BOM Portal: A Game Changer for Design Engineers and Supply Chain Optimization Managing PCB (Printed Circuit Board) project Bills of Materials (BOMs) using manual methods such as spreadsheets is still a common practice for many design teams. However, these traditional approaches are fraught with issues that can have serious implications for the success of design projects. Relying on manual tools for BOM management introduces inefficiencies, risks, and miscommunication that can delay production, inflate costs, and even Read Article
Tips to Reduce BOM Errors and Ensure Compliance Tips to Reduce BOM Errors and Ensure Compliance One of the most common reasons for delays in PCB assembly, as well as extra costs, is errors in parts information in a BOM. There are plenty of reasons errors can arise in a BOM, and these errors can range from a simple part number mistake to missing environmental compliance data or marking parts as DNP. Omitting this data creates new liabilities for manufacturers and can lead to incorrect part ordering by the procurement team. Staying on Read Article
BOM Management From Design to Procurement BOM Management: From Design to Procurement Explained A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a comprehensive list of all components, assemblies, and sub-assemblies required to manufacture a product. It’s an absolutely essential document that helps companies bridge the gap between traditionally siloed design and production teams to maintain accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness throughout the product life cycle. Understanding the Importance of BOMs With that in mind, it’s clear that BOMs play a crucial Read Article
Managing Electronic Component Obsolescence Managing Electronic Component Obsolescence: Practical Insights for Engineering Managers The acceleration of technological innovation, the complexity of global supply chains, and emerging environmental and safety regulations have dramatically increased the likelihood of critical components becoming obsolete during a product's lifecycle. Raw material shortages and supplier bankruptcies further contribute to increased component obsolescence. For engineering managers, proactively managing these risks is essential to avoid costly Read Article
How Reliable Is Your Electronic Parts Data How Reliable Is Your Electronic Parts Data? Accurate component data is the lifeblood of successful projects. Yet, many engineers and procurement professionals grapple with unreliable or outdated information in their Bills of Materials (BOMs). This poor data quality can lead to a cascade of problems throughout a product’s lifecycle, affecting everything from design integrity to production efficiency, costs, and final product quality. Let’s take a look at how poor data quality can wreak Read Article
0:35:52 Ensuring Electronic Component Traceability From Idea to Innovation Watch the webinar to learn how to achieve full transparency, improve collaboration, and ensure compliance throughout your entire supply chain—whether you are sourcing domestically or abroad. Watch Video
Cost-Saving Techniques in BOM Management for Procurement Specialists Cost-Saving Techniques in BOM Management for Procurement Specialists When it comes to the electronic component industry, companies and their internal teams need to figure out how to effectively manage their Bill of Materials (BOM) if they want to achieve profitability and maintain a competitive edge in today’s highly competitive market. This sentiment is especially true for procurement specialists, for whom BOM management heavily impacts the effort to optimize costs and ensure efficient sourcing of components Read Article
Proactive Solutions for Staying Ahead of Component Obsolescence Proactive Solutions for Staying Ahead of Component Obsolescence When it comes to designing new boards, designers and manufacturers regularly contend with component obsolescence; it’s a substantial challenge caused by technological evolution and market demands shifting that, unfortunately, leads to potential disruptions in product development, production, and maintenance. To mitigate the risks associated with obsolescence, companies must have proactive measures in place. There are different types of Read Article
The Role of BOM Management in Engineering Success The Role of BOM Management in Engineering Success The design and manufacturing of PCBs is an intricate process, with the Bill of Materials (BOM) being a critical yet often undermined aspect, given less attention than it deserves. While PCB design and manufacturing involve complex technicalities and intricate supply chains, the BOM is pivotal to uniting forces and ensuring smooth and efficient production flow. Below, we examine BOM's critical role in PCB design and manufacturing and explore the Read Article
Engineering Teams Love Integrated BOM and CAD Systems Why Engineering Teams Love Integrated BOM and CAD Systems There's a big difference between a parts list and a BOM for a PCBA. A parts list is a simple list of part numbers that will appear in the design. It doesn't become a BOM until some sourcing information is attached. Once you have a real BOM, you can go out and source parts from your vendors and start the assembly process. At the end of the design process, a designer will need to attach that sourcing information to their parts list and turn it into Read Article
Optimize PCB Design with Integrated BOM and CAD Systems Optimize PCB Design with Integrated BOM and CAD Systems Until recently, PCB design software and supply chain software were kept perpetually separated. You created your product in your PCB design software suite, and then you took your exported Bill of Materials (BOM) to your procurement department to buy parts. How anyone selected parts and ensured availability is a mystery at this point because the CAD systems of the past had no ability to be supply chain aware. Fast forward to today, and you'll find Read Article
Strategies for Managing BOM Complexity in Product Design Strategies for Managing BOM Complexity in Product Design Managing Bill of Materials (BOM) complexity is a critical challenge that can significantly impact the efficiency, cost, and success of a project. BOM complexity arises from the need to integrate numerous components, each with its own specifications, suppliers, and lifecycle considerations. This complexity can lead to increased costs, longer development times, and higher risks of errors, making it essential for manufacturers to adopt strategic Read Article
My Favorite Tools for BOM Review Blog My Favorite Tools for BOM Review Getting caught with unsourceable components in a BOM is more common than you might think. Even with all the real-time supply chain tools provided in EDA software, designers can still get to the stage where they need to place an order, only to find parts are suddenly out of stock. A related issue is obsolescence, where parts suddenly go into EOL (end-of-life) or become obsolete without any notice from the manufacturer. If these events happen, you Read Article
Best Practices in BOM Management for Pro PCB Designers Best Practices in BOM Management for Pro PCB Designers Let's be honest, one of the biggest marketing buzzwords in electronics procurement is BOM management. Depending on who you're talking to, it means a lot of things and nothing simultaneously. How does one term become so ubiquitous and yet produce so little actionable advice? I think the reason this happens is that managers don't implement actual processes for BOM management, and design teams don't realize they can leverage their tools to implement Read Article
BOM Management Essentials: From Concept to Prototype for Product Designers BOM Management Essentials: From Concept to Prototype for Product Designers Effective Bill of Material (BOM) management is a critical aspect of product design, particularly in the electronics industry. The BOM lifecycle begins at the concept phase and continues through to the prototype phase, each stage presenting unique challenges and opportunities. This article provides key insights into managing BOMs during these initial phases, offering practical strategies for product designers to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and Read Article
Tools and Strategies for Effective BOM Management in Engineering Essential Tools and Strategies for Effective BOM Management in Engineering Effective Bill of Material (BOM) management is crucial for engineering teams, especially in the electronics industry. A well-managed BOM ensures that all components are accounted for, costs are controlled, and production timelines are met. This article explores essential tools and strategies that can enhance BOM management, making the process more efficient and reliable. Understanding the Importance of BOM Management A Bill of Materials is an Read Article