Concurrent design: revolutionizing PCB development

By Stephen V. Chavez

The intricate demands of modern electronic systems design render traditional linear approaches to PCB design obsolete. Enter the era of the digital thread and digital twin, technologies that prioritize speed, quality, and cost efficiency. In this paradigm shift, concurrent design has emerged as a transformative methodology, reshaping how projects are conceived, developed, and executed. By fostering multidomain collaboration and iterative processes, concurrent design minimizes errors and project delays, delivering results that align with today’s market demands.

Understanding concurrent design

Also referred to as simultaneous engineering or parallel design, concurrent design integrates multiple disciplines from the outset of a project. Designing while actively cooperating together in real-time where the collective design output is greater than the summation of the individual contributions done in serial fashion (the legacy approach) is the essence of concurrent design. Unlike linear workflows, where tasks progress sequentially, concurrent design promotes simultaneous collaboration across all stages of development. This unified approach replaces outdated legacy siloed practices, enabling real-time integration, collective problem-solving, and enhances bidirectional communication.

In practice, concurrent design empowers teams to work simultaneously within the same PCB database covering schematics, constraints, and layouts. Updates made by one team member dynamically reflect in real time across the platform, ensuring seamless collaboration, adherence to design rules, and potentially reducing design cycle time.

My real-world example:

Three PCB designers (team 1) worked simultaneously in the same design layout in one 8-hour shift, which equals 24hrs of effort. We then handed off the PCB database to an international team (team 2) consisting of three additional designers who were physically located in a different time zone opposite (offset by 12.5 hours), to work on the same PCB database while implementing the same method. This equals an additional 24hrs of effort on the same common PCB database in the same day. So, in one working day (24hr period) in a week, the PCB design team, which consisted of six PCB designers, collectively produced a total of 48hrs effort on the layout design! Now let’s do the math: That’s 48hrs per working day x 5 working days per work week, which equals 240hrs per work week. So, as a team, we produced 6 weeks (1.5 months) of effort in one physical week! That’s a significant reduction of design cycle time! The key to our success was having and utilizing a PCB tool (Xpedition) that enabled concurrent design, total buy-in from every team member, and constant bidirectional communication.  

Key benefits of concurrent design

• Enhanced collaboration: Multidisciplinary teams collaborate closely, exchanging diverse perspectives that lead to innovative solutions. This cross-pollination of ideas eliminates the limitations of isolated workflows and amplifies innovation. The key here is to establish and maintain an internal culture that embraces the concurrent design methodology.
• Accelerated time-to-market: Parallel workflows shorten project timelines, a critical advantage in industries where rapid innovation defines competitive success. Refer back to my real-world example.
• Proactive problem-solving: Early detection of potential issues becomes possible, as multiple experts evaluate and provide feedback on designs in real time. This is like a scenario of having the entire project team physically in a conference room working on a white board together to address real time issues on the fly. This proactive approach prevents costly delays and adds to the overall productivity.  A side benefit yet just as valuable is that it provides direct observations of other’s team members approach to problem solving, which adds to the evolutions of the actual team.
• Minimized rework: Continuous feedback and cross-disciplinary input reduce errors and misunderstandings, leading to fewer revisions and lower resource consumption. There is a lot to be said and gained for having instant real-time review and feedback.
• Adaptability in dynamic environments: Concurrent design thrives on flexibility, allowing teams to pivot and adapt to changing priorities without derailing the project schedule. Addressing real-time problems on the fly saves time and increase quality.

Leveraging today’s tools and teams

Advances in engineering tools and practices make concurrent design more accessible than ever. Having multiple electrical engineers collaborating on a schematic or several PCB designers refining a layout or both, all in real time within a single database is no longer a hypothetical scenario. It’s real and when implemented, it’s revolutionary. This synchronized effort translates to unparalleled efficiency and reduced time-to-market.

By integrating simultaneous contributions from diverse experts, concurrent design optimizes team utilization and drives innovation. The result is a higher-quality product delivered faster, aligning with the increasing complexity and competitive pressures of the industry.

The future of PCB development

Concurrent design represents a paradigm shift in project management and product development. It embraces collaboration, adaptability, and efficiency, addressing the growing demands of modern engineering. As projects become more complex, adopting concurrent design will not only be an advantage but a necessity for organizations aiming to stay ahead.

In an industry where speed, quality, and cost define success, concurrent design is the game changer. By enabling real-time, multiuser, and multidiscipline collaboration, it paves the way for smarter, faster, and more innovative product development.