Cost Is a Design Variable: Using PCB Should-Cost Tools Before You Request a Quote

Most PCB cost is locked in at layout, yet designers usually see the price only after the RFQ, when changes are slow and expensive. This talk shows how should-cost analysis lets engineering teams estimate bare-board and assembly cost straight from Gerbers and the BOM, on every design revision. Using worked examples, we will break down the biggest cost drivers (layer count, stackup, via technology, finish, panel use and component choices), show how DFM findings link back to specific features, and compare price breaks across regions. Attendees will leave with a practical checklist for treating cost as a design input.