Design review checklist in PCB Design - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a PCB design engineer

📋 Request: Your manager wants a dashboard to track the status of design review checklist items across multiple PCB projects to ensure quality and timely completion

📊 Data: You have data on PCB projects, checklist items, their status (Completed, Pending, In Progress), assigned reviewers, and review dates

🎯 Deliverable: Create a dashboard showing checklist completion rates per project, status breakdown, and overdue items

Sample Data

Project	Checklist Item	Status	Reviewer	Review Date	Due Date
Alpha	Component Placement	Completed	John	2024-05-01	2024-05-05
Alpha	Routing Check	Pending	Mary		2024-05-10
Alpha	DRC Verification	In Progress	John		2024-05-08
Beta	Component Placement	Completed	Mary	2024-04-28	2024-05-01
Beta	Routing Check	Completed	John	2024-05-02	2024-05-05
Beta	DRC Verification	Pending	Mary		2024-05-07
Gamma	Component Placement	In Progress	John		2024-05-06
Gamma	Routing Check	Pending	Mary		2024-05-09
Gamma	DRC Verification	Pending	John		2024-05-10

1

Step 1: Load the sample data into your BI tool as a table named 'DesignReviewChecklist'

Import the data with columns: Project, Checklist Item, Status, Reviewer, Review Date, Due Date

Expected Result

Data table with 9 rows loaded correctly

2

Step 2: Create a calculated measure to count total checklist items per project

Total Items = COUNTROWS(FILTER('DesignReviewChecklist', 'DesignReviewChecklist'[Project] = MAX('DesignReviewChecklist'[Project])))

Expected Result

Total Items measure returns 3 for each project (9 for all projects combined)

3

Step 3: Create a calculated measure to count completed checklist items per project

Completed Items = CALCULATE(COUNTROWS('DesignReviewChecklist'), 'DesignReviewChecklist'[Status] = "Completed", 'DesignReviewChecklist'[Project] = MAX('DesignReviewChecklist'[Project]))

Expected Result

Completed Items measure returns correct counts per project (Alpha=1, Beta=2, Gamma=0)

4

Step 4: Create a calculated measure for completion rate per project

Completion Rate = DIVIDE([Completed Items], [Total Items], 0)

Expected Result

Completion Rate shows percentage of completed items per project (Alpha=33%, Beta=67%, Gamma=0%)

5

Step 5: Create a status breakdown visual: Rows=Project, Columns=Status, Values=Count of Checklist Item

Use a matrix visual with Project as rows, Status as columns, and count of Checklist Item as values

Expected Result

Matrix shows counts of Completed, Pending, In Progress items per project

6

Step 6: Create a table visual to list overdue checklist items (Due Date before today and Status not Completed)

Filter: 'DesignReviewChecklist'[Due Date] < TODAY() AND 'DesignReviewChecklist'[Status] <> "Completed"

Expected Result

Table shows overdue items with Project, Checklist Item, Status, Reviewer, Due Date

7

Step 7: Arrange visuals on a dashboard with title 'PCB Design Review Checklist Status'

Place Completion Rate card, Status Breakdown matrix, and Overdue Items table neatly with clear labels

Expected Result

Dashboard clearly shows project progress, status distribution, and overdue tasks

Final Result

PCB Design Review Checklist Status

+----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Project        | Completed      | Pending        | In Progress    |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Alpha          | 1              | 1              | 1              |
| Beta           | 2              | 1              | 0              |
| Gamma          | 0              | 2              | 1              |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+

Completion Rate per Project:
Alpha: 33%
Beta: 67%
Gamma: 0%

Overdue Items:
- Gamma: Component Placement (In Progress), Due 2024-05-06
- Alpha: Routing Check (Pending), Due 2024-05-10 (if today > 2024-05-10)

✓Beta project has the highest checklist completion rate at 67%.

✓Alpha project has mixed status with only 33% completed items.

✓Gamma project has no completed checklist items and multiple overdue tasks.

✓Overdue checklist items need immediate attention to avoid delays.

Bonus Challenge

Add a trend line visual showing checklist completion progress over time per project using Review Date

Show Hint

Create a measure counting cumulative completed items by Review Date and plot it on a line chart with Project as legend

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a design review checklist in PCB design?

easy

A. To ensure the PCB design meets quality and readiness standards

B. To create the PCB layout automatically

C. To write the firmware for the PCB

D. To order components from suppliers

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of a design review checklist

   A design review checklist is used to verify that all aspects of the PCB design are correct and ready for production.

2. Step 2: Identify the main goal

   The checklist helps catch errors early and ensures quality and readiness before manufacturing.

3. Final Answer:

   To ensure the PCB design meets quality and readiness standards -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Design review checklist = quality and readiness check [OK]

Hint: Check if the option talks about quality and readiness [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing checklist with design automation
• Thinking checklist writes code
• Assuming checklist orders parts

2. Which item should NOT be included in a PCB design review checklist?

easy

A. Schematic verification

B. Electrical rule check

C. Writing marketing content

D. Component placement review

Solution

1. Step 1: List typical checklist items

   Common checklist items include schematic checks, component placement, and electrical rules.

2. Step 2: Identify unrelated tasks

   Writing marketing content is unrelated to PCB design review and should not be included.

3. Final Answer:

   Writing marketing content -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Marketing content is unrelated to PCB design [OK]

Hint: Pick the option unrelated to PCB technical checks [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including non-technical tasks in checklist
• Confusing marketing with design review
• Ignoring electrical checks

3. Given a checklist with these steps:
1. Verify schematic
2. Check component placement
3. Run electrical rule check
4. Confirm mechanical fit
What is the expected result if step 3 fails?

medium

A. Errors in electrical connections must be fixed

B. The PCB is ready for manufacturing

C. Mechanical parts need redesign

D. Schematic needs no changes

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand electrical rule check failure

   If the electrical rule check fails, it means there are errors in the electrical connections or design rules.

2. Step 2: Determine next action

   These errors must be fixed before proceeding to manufacturing to avoid faulty PCBs.

3. Final Answer:

   Errors in electrical connections must be fixed -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Electrical rule check fail = fix electrical errors [OK]

Hint: Failing electrical check means fix electrical errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming PCB is ready despite errors
• Confusing mechanical fit with electrical errors
• Ignoring the need to fix schematic

4. A PCB design review checklist includes a step to check component footprints. The designer notices footprints do not match the datasheet but ignores it. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. The PCB will function perfectly

B. The components may not fit or solder correctly

C. The schematic is incorrect

D. The mechanical enclosure is too small

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand footprint importance

   Footprints define the physical pad layout for components on PCB.

2. Step 2: Consequences of incorrect footprints

   If footprints don't match datasheet, components may not fit or solder properly, causing assembly issues.

3. Final Answer:

   The components may not fit or solder correctly -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Wrong footprint = fit and solder problems [OK]

Hint: Mismatch footprint means physical fit issues [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring footprint errors
• Confusing schematic errors with footprint issues
• Assuming mechanical enclosure fixes footprint problems

5. You are preparing a design review checklist for a complex PCB project. Which combination of checks best ensures both electrical and mechanical readiness before production?

hard

A. Component placement, electrical rule check, software debugging, mechanical fit check

B. Schematic verification, firmware testing, component placement, packaging design

C. Electrical rule check, marketing review, mechanical fit check, documentation writing

D. Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify essential electrical checks

   Schematic verification and electrical rule check ensure the circuit is correct and follows design rules.

2. Step 2: Identify essential mechanical checks

   Component placement and mechanical fit check ensure parts fit physically and the PCB fits the enclosure.

3. Step 3: Evaluate options

   Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check includes all key electrical and mechanical checks. Other options include unrelated tasks like firmware, marketing, or software debugging.

4. Final Answer:

   Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Electrical + mechanical checks = Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check [OK]

Hint: Pick option with both electrical and mechanical checks only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including unrelated tasks like marketing or software debugging
• Missing key electrical or mechanical checks
• Confusing firmware testing with design review