In the old days, tolerances were relatively easy to meet. Product performance impact was not severe. Manual artwork creation evolved to electronic CAM, which has evolved to automated preproduction engineering in most leading PCB factories.

We all know there is continuing pressure in the electronics marketplace to bring product to market faster at lower costs with higher reliability, higher performance and improved quality, all wrapped up into a smaller more condensed package. These pressures require boards to be denser and denser with higher layer counts, thinner laminates and more via counts. These continuous rigorous challenges demand more sophisticated, interactive and comprehensive DFM review techniques.

The 21st century is around the corner. Some companies will evolve with the forever changing technologies, while others will remain "optimistically cautious." To all of you who are interested in discovering new possibilities, welcome to the new world of Manufacturing Simulation Technology. This presentation will review the current state and future of manufacturing checking and simulation tools.

In this demanding world where all resources have become scarce, the key to producing more complex, compact and efficient PCBs is effective, intelligent communication among the designer, fabricator, and assembler. That is why vertical integration among OEMs, bare board fabricators, and PCB assemblers must become a reality.

Bio:
Leigh Eichel holds a BS IE from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Boston University. Before the opening of Valor, Leigh held a variety of engineering and management positions at Teradyne, Lockheed and ITT.