Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are not a new concept, and most design engineers have training and experience in the design of these streamlined, compact types of boards. For many OEMs, the natural inclination may be to rely on in-house engineers for printed circuit board design, as it is easier. There may also be the mistaken belief that is a lower cost option, but this is rarely the case.
By considering the benefits of outsourcing printed circuit board design, it is easy to see why this is a top consideration in most circumstances. Understanding the benefits of outsourcing compared to in-house design helps the OEM to make the best choice for quality of work, the speed of design completion as well as full design testing to eliminate problems in moving into production.
Lower Costs and Faster Turnaround
Lowering costs is a primary reason for any type of outsourcing. By using an experienced PCB design team, the basics of the board are quickly development, allowing the team to focus on the specific requirements that are necessary for the device or system where the board is to be used.
Faster design means the ability to move to production quickly, allowing for prototyping and testing of the full system. As the design team will test the circuit board they design, this eliminates a trial and error type of prototyping that can add to the costs and increase the time.
Increased Expertise
Another key benefit to outsourcing printed circuit board design is the ability to choose a service with expertise in working on projects within an industry. This expertise and experience are an asset to your design, as common mistakes, problems and issues are known by the design team and are avoided.
With challenging or new and innovative types of board requirements, this expertise also helps to avoid common roadblocks that can create delays in both the design as well as the testing of the boards when completed by in-house engineers with extensive experience.
