Design Review
1. Overview
A design review is an independent assessment of a product's manufacturing data, undertaken before that data is issued to a contract electronics manufacturer (CEM). The review considers the bill of materials, PCB and Gerber data, assembly drawings, schematic, test, supply chain durability, and any end application considerations. It is carried out by a qualified electronics engineer who is an expert in DFM, DFT, and DFS.
The purpose of the review is to identify anything that would increase cost, introduce delay, or generate a query once the project reaches a manufacturing partner. It is also designed to reduce your reliance on any one manufacturer and allow product and data packs to be easily transferred between manufacturers. Because Veritex holds no manufacturing equipment, the review is not influenced by a preference for any particular process, material, or supplier. Findings are reported directly to the client, with no obligation to proceed to any other service. The idea being that our engineers act as manufacturing or NPI engineers for your business without you needing to recruit your own full time. This is especially useful if electronics is complementary to your business and not core, so that having manufacturing experience in-house is not required.
Turnaround is typically one working day for a single assembly, extending to a few working days for multi-board or higher-complexity projects. The review may be commissioned as a single exercise ahead of a production release, or repeated at each subsequent revision of a design. Findings are delivered as a structured written report through the client portal, alongside indicative pricing for assembly and all our recommendations.
2. What Is Included
Each review considers the following areas, appropriate to the data provided:
- Bill of materials and obsolescence review. Every line of the BOM is checked against current supply data for parts that are obsolete, approaching end-of-life, or otherwise at risk, and lower-cost alternatives are identified where they exist. Where a component is non-stock or restricted to a single source, an alternative is proposed together with the reasoning behind it.
- PCB and Gerber data audit. PCB drawings and Gerber data are checked for completeness against the components specified, and footprints are verified against the actual package outline, reducing the likelihood of a query once the data reaches a manufacturer.
- Assembly drawing and schematic review. Assembly drawings are reviewed for ambiguity and for instructions that would add unnecessary cost or complexity at the point of build. The schematic is checked for design errors and for compliance with relevant standards.
- Test strategy review. The proposed test approach is assessed and recommendations made, so that faults are identified at the most appropriate and cost-effective stage of production.
- Engineering query resolution. Any outstanding engineering questions relating to the PCB or assembly are answered as part of the review, together with should-cost pricing that can be used as a reference during CEM negotiations.
3. Who This Service Is For
This service is most commonly commissioned by engineering teams in the following situations:
- Preparing to send manufacturing data to a contract electronics manufacturer for the first time, and seeking an independent check before that data is reviewed by a supplier with a commercial interest in the outcome.
- Introducing a new revision of an existing design, where a design review can confirm that changes have not introduced new obsolescence, footprint, or documentation issues.
- Comparing quotations from more than one CEM, where independent should-cost guidance provides a reference point that is not set by any of the suppliers involved.
4. How the Review Works
- Data submission. The client provides available manufacturing data, typically the BOM, Gerbers, schematic, and assembly drawings. Where confidentiality is a concern, a non-disclosure agreement can be put in place before any data is shared.
- Review. The data is assessed in full against the areas described above by a qualified electronics engineer.
- Report delivery. A structured report, including should-cost guidance, is delivered through the client portal, together with an opportunity to raise follow-up questions on any point raised.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a design review take?
Most single-assembly reviews are completed within one working day. Projects involving multiple boards, or a higher component count, typically take between two and four working days depending on complexity.
Does Veritex manufacture the product following the review?
Veritex can arrange production of the reviewed design, drawing on a broad panel of contract manufacturers selected to suit the requirements of the specific project and market. The review itself remains independent: because Veritex is not tied to any single manufacturer, findings are not influenced by a preference for one particular process, material, or supplier.
What format is the report delivered in?
Findings are delivered as a structured written report through the client portal, together with should-cost pricing where applicable.
Can a design review be repeated for later revisions?
Yes. Many clients commission a review at each significant revision of a design, particularly where component substitutions or layout changes have been made.
Is a non-disclosure agreement required before data is shared?
A non-disclosure agreement can be arranged before any data is submitted, using either a standard Veritex agreement or a client's own template.
6. Getting Started
To commission a design review, submit an enquiry describing the project and the data available. A response is typically provided the same working day, with an invitation to the client portal to follow, where the review can be tracked through to completion. This service is frequently commissioned alongside Fractional NPI Director support or Turnkey Prototype Management, and further detail on the engagement process is available on the How It Works page.