Good PCB Assembly Starts Long Before the BOM

When I first started designing PCBs, I thought assembly was mostly about having the right BOM and CPL files.

After building a few boards, I realized the assembly process started much earlier.

Simple layout decisions, like leaving enough space between components, thinking about connector orientation, or making test points easy to reach, can make a surprising difference later. They're easy to overlook when you're focused on routing traces, but they become much more obvious once the board is being assembled.

Now, when I'm close to finishing a layout, I try to look at it from the perspective of someone who must build it, not just someone who designed it.

It's a small mindset shift, but I think it has helped me create boards that are easier to assemble and troubleshoot.

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