Turn fabrication questions into explicit decisions. A DFM issue log should identify the affected feature, proposed action, owner and approved release.
Keep the question attached to the design
A useful DFM question identifies the board revision and the affected location or feature. It explains the manufacturing concern and gives enough context for the designer to evaluate a proposed change. A cropped image without layer names or coordinates can make the problem harder to find than to solve.
Assign each question an identifier and preserve the original wording. When the discussion changes, add the resolution rather than replacing the question with a brief “OK” that no longer explains what was approved.
Use a decision-oriented log
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Issue and location | Locate the affected design feature. |
| Concern | Explain why a decision is required. |
| Proposed action | Describe the exact manufacturing or design change. |
| Impact | Identify electrical, mechanical, cost or schedule consequences. |
| Owner and approval | Record who can accept the action and when it was accepted. |
| Release reference | Connect the answer to the files used for production. |
Distinguish clarification from modification
Confirming that a hole is intentionally non-plated may clarify an existing design intention. Enlarging that hole changes the geometry and may affect fit. Treat those decisions differently so the approval does not unintentionally authorize a wider change.
Similarly, an adjustment proposed to improve manufacturability may affect an impedance-controlled structure or connector interface. The reviewer should understand the affected requirement before accepting the proposal.
Resolve conflicts across documents
If the drawing and manufacturing files disagree, identify which instruction is correct and whether a new package is required. Record the final file set. A chain of informal exceptions can become difficult to reproduce on a repeat order, so incorporate permanent decisions into the controlled source where practical.
For example, if a mask opening was changed after the original export, retain the reviewed replacement file and update the release inventory. A screenshot of the change alone does not establish which file the factory used.
Close the log before starting the affected work
Review open issues, identify any that prevent production and record the final release decision. Keep accepted deviations separate from unresolved questions. At receipt or first-article review, check the features affected by approved changes when the acceptance plan calls for it.
The design-for-manufacturing checklist helps identify questions early. The issue log preserves the project-specific answers and makes them available to the next order.
Move from reading to a build-ready project
Use the fabrication and assembly checklists to prepare drawings, production files and test requirements.
Open the DFM checklist