A PCB DFM Checklist Helps You Pass a Design Review
By ZM Peterson • Jan 15, 2020Here's how a PCB DFM checklist will help you pass a design review before manufacturing.
Expert Feedback, Precision Guidance
Following the incredible success of Zachariah Peterson's 1-Minute PCB Design Review series on the Altium Academy YouTube channel, we have received dozens of requests for design reviews. We have expanded this activity beyond technical content for our EDA software clients, and we are now offering comprehensive PCB design review services for client projects. We can provide this service to clients with quick turnaround under a flexible budget-based model.
What's Checked in a PCB Design Review
To get started, send us your high-level specification, PCB design files in your native ECAD format, and manufacturing outputs. Any relevant test results or simulation results detailing intended functionality can help expedite a design review and will assist us in providing the best course of action to improve the design.
- Circuit design and component selection
- PCB Stackup design and material selection
- PCB layout and routing strategy
- PCB footprints for common and specialty packages
- Grounding system design
- Factors influencing SI/PI/EMC
- Your specification, design rules, and DFM constraints
- Manufacturing outputs and drawings
Targeted Design Reviews and Analysis
Our PCB design review services align with our focused consulting services and allow clients to access expertise in more specialized areas. We offer multiple types of targeted design reviews for PCB projects:
- Schematic Design Review – A targeted review of circuit design and functionality, component selection, the PCB project library, bill of materials, and constraints defined in the schematics. This could include simulation work as part of the review process.
- PCB Layout Review – A design review focusing on the PCB layout. We evaluate the stack-up, component placement, routing, and conformance to standard DFM/DFA constraints.
- PCB Library Review – A check of the PCB footprints used in the design to verify they conform to the datasheet specification, common package geometry, and IPC standards.
- PCB Manufacturability Review - An evaluation of the manufacturing outputs generated from your project, including fabrication and assembly files, to ensure compliance with industry standards and compatibility with vendor processes.
- Signal Integrity Review – A deep dive into signal integrity for specific high-speed or RF interconnects using industry-standard simulation tools. Visit our Signal Integrity Consulting page to learn more.
- EMC Design Review – A review of the schematics and layout with a focus on compliance with EMC standards and regulations. Visit our EMC Consulting page to learn more.
Once we have completed the review of your project files and your manufacturing outputs, we provide a comprehensive report with the results. This includes suggested changes to the circuit design, PCB layout, and routing. More specialized points, such as SI and EMC, are also addressed in the final report where applicable. This may include results from simulation or analysis software and a validation of the required design changes.
What's In a Review Report?
The goal of a PCB design review report is to give you a clear, prioritized path from "here’s what we found" to "here’s what to change." Each item above is written as actionable guidance (with marked-up files and screenshots where helpful), so you can implement the highest-impact fixes first, reduce risk before fabrication, and move into build and test with fewer surprises.
Red-lined Schematics
Specific updates to components, circuits, and system-level design:
- Annotated schematics with callouts on the exact symbols/nets that need attention.
- Corrections to power-entry, protection, and interface conditioning (filters, termination, biasing, level shifting, etc.).
- Component selection flags: ratings/margins, derating concerns, availability risks, and safer alternates where appropriate.
- System-level review, including circuit selection and suggested changes based on cost/performance targets.
- Missing constraints or documentation items to add (impedance targets, length-match groups, test hooks, reference designators, notes).
Targeted PCB Layout Changes
Review of the PCB layout for placement, density, and performance.
- Specific placement moves to fix coupling, loop area, thermal issues, or return path discontinuities.
- Routing edits for critical nets: topology changes, reference plane continuity, rail vs. trace usage.
- PCB stackup review, including comparison with vendor standard stackups where applicable.
- Where applicable, review of the grounding strategy, e.g., to satisfy galvanic isolation requirements or chassis grounding.
- Marked-up screenshots and before/after examples so changes can be implemented quickly.
PCB Library Report
Review of scheatic symbols, PCB footprints, and supply chain information for each line in the BOM.
- Identification of components with incorrect symbols, incomplete parameterization, and missing supply chain information.
- Lifecycle report listing the lifecycle status of all components in a project library.
- PCB footprint reviews, including copper, mask, silk, stencil, and mechanical layer inspection.
- Review of rules settings encoded in the project library vs. defined in the PCB layout.
- Recommended changes for any components requiring updates.
SI/PI/EMI Review
We identify SI/PI constraints that define the PCB laoyout and spot potential EMI risks.
- High-speed interconnect constraint checks for impedance, timing, and density.
- Identification of length-match net and groups, checks of skew budgets, and interface verification.
- When applicable, targeted analysis results (screenshots/plots) to justify the recommended changes.
- PDN review: decoupling placement/values, plane inductance bottlenecks, high-current distribution, and resonance risk flags.
- For a deeper dive in SI or EMI, visit our signal integrity consulting page or EMC consulting page.
Manufacturability Report
CAM-based analysis of the PCB manufacturing files in alignment with desired fabrication capabilities.
- DFM/DFA checks against common fab/assembly constraints (clearances, annular ring, mask slivers, silk layer, etc.).
- Drill/via strategy review (drill sizes, aspect ratios, microvia usage, via-in-pad concerns, fill/cap requirements, etc.).
- Assembly readiness: courtyard conflicts, polarity/orientation risks, special-process parts, and rework/inspection access.
- Output package validation: Gerbers/ODB++, drill files, IPC-D-356 netlist, pick-and-place, BOM, and drawing completeness.
- Cost/risk drivers called out early, e.g., features that increase lead time, yield risk, or hit vendor limitations.
Related Resources
Your PCB Layout Review Checklist Before Manufacturing
By ZM Peterson • Nov 18, 2020Before you send your PCB out for manufacturing, run through a PCB layout review checklist to ensure manufacturability and conformance to design requirements.
What to Keep in Your PCB Footprint Checklist
By ZM Peterson • Sep 10, 2020Before you start your PCB layout, look through the items in our PCB footprint checklist to help you stay on track.
Our PCB Design Review Process
We provide customers with PCB design and advanced packaging design solutions to accelearte the innovation process for cutting-edge electronics.- Contact us for a consultation and quote.
- Send us all available design data in your native ECAD software file format, as well as your manufacturing files and applicable test/simulation results illustrating core functionality.
- We'll review your schematics, PCB layout, library, BOM, and manufacturing files to identify anything that compromises basic functionality, SI/PI/EMI, manufacturability, and reliability.
- At the conclusion of the review process, we'll provide a comprehensive report outlining the findings and proposed changes to the design which will improve the final product.
Why Work With NWES?
- Broad expertise - We're a digitally-driven remote-first organization with diverse talent and experience. We know your technology because we've used it and built it.
- Manufacturing partners - We work with local and overseas CMs and EMS providers that are ISO-9001, AS9100, ISO-13485, IPC-A-610, NADCAP, and/or ITAR/JCP certified. We help you find the best option to produce prototypes and scale to volume production.
- Supply chain management - We take a proactive approach on projects to ensure your design can be produced at the required volume. We'll manage procurement from major distributors or brokers throughout your project.
Need a hand with a current or future IC substrate design project? Find out the difference our experts can make.
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