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PCB DFM Checklist

Review your manufacturing package before it reaches CAM. Record the status of 32 practical checks, add notes and export a worksheet for your next engineering discussion.

Open the DFM ChecklistView DFM Service
32 checksEight focused review categories
Local worksheetNo uploads or automated CAM analysis
CSV exportKeep a record before refreshing
01 / The starting point

A checklist records a review. It does not inspect your design files.

Use this worksheet to organize a human DFM review and identify the decisions that still need confirmation.

Set each item to Pass, Needs review or Not applicable only after checking the relevant evidence. Keep the default Not reviewed state when the information is missing.

The worksheet includes fabrication checks plus assembly and test handoff questions. Keep the scope of each approval explicit: a bare-board manufacturing review is not a validation of the assembled product.

Privacy and scope: No files are analyzed, uploaded or stored by this page. Status changes are your own assessment. The worksheet does not calculate yield, certify compliance or approve manufacture.
02 / Choose the right review

DRC, DFM, DFA and DFT answer different questions.

Swipe horizontally to read the full table.

Suggested review boundaries
ReviewMain questionEvidence to request
CAD DRCDoes the layout satisfy the configured geometry and connectivity checks?The final CAD rule report and a documented exception list.
Fabrication DFMCan the specified copper, holes, profile and coatings be fabricated as intended?A construction-specific CAM review and answers to manufacturing queries.
Assembly / DFADo the part definitions and layout support the agreed assembly process?Reviewed footprints, BOM, placement data and assembly instructions.
Test / DFTHow will the required functions and connections be accessed and verified?An agreed test brief, access requirements, acceptance limits and responsibility for fixtures.
03 / Interactive review worksheet

Record the status. Keep the evidence.

0 / 32 assessed0 need review32 not reviewed

“Assessed” includes Pass, Needs review and Not applicable. It does not mean that the design has passed a manufacturing review.

A / Data & revision control

A1
All fabrication files and drawings carry the same board identifier and revision.
A2
Copper layers are identified in the intended physical order, including any special layers.
A3
Drill and profile exports use the correct units, origin and registration.
A4
Outdated files are removed; file precedence and permitted engineering changes are stated.

B / Copper & electrical geometry

B1
Trace and spacing rules have been checked for the proposed finished copper construction.
B2
Fine neck-downs, isolated copper and narrow residual copper features have been reviewed.
B3
Copper clearance to routed edges, cutouts and scored edges has been checked separately.
B4
Critical current paths and isolation requirements have a documented engineering review.

C / Drills, vias & slots

C1
Finished hole diameters, tolerances and plated or non-plated status are unambiguous.
C2
Via and pad geometry has been checked against the agreed annular-ring requirements.
C3
Blind, buried, filled or capped via requirements are identified rather than assumed.
C4
Slots, countersinks or other non-standard mechanical features have clear drawings.

D / Mask, finish & markings

D1
Mask openings and narrow mask webs have been reviewed in the exported layers.
D2
Covered or exposed vias and any plugged or filled holes are explicitly distinguished.
D3
The surface finish and any selective finish areas are stated in the build notes.
D4
Reference markings, polarity marks and other required legends remain readable and unobstructed.

E / Outline & assembly panel

E1
The finished outline, cutouts and critical dimensions are defined without conflicting contours.
E2
Board-to-panel spacing and rails account for the intended separation method.
E3
Panel tooling, fiducials and orientation requirements have been discussed with assembly.
E4
Edge overhang, component loading and depaneling access have been reviewed.

F / Material, stackup & impedance

F1
Material selection, layer count, total thickness and copper requirements are documented.
F2
Each controlled structure has a signal layer, reference structure, target and tolerance.
F3
Permitted changes to widths, pair gaps, materials and dielectric heights are stated.
F4
Any impedance coupon, measurement and reporting requirements are included in the order scope.

G / Assembly handoff

G1
The BOM specifies exact parts, package variants, quantities and reference designators.
G2
Footprints and pin mapping have been checked against the selected component drawings.
G3
Placement coordinates, side and rotation agree with the assembly drawing and origin.
G4
DNP parts, alternatives, polarity, special processes and assembly variants are identified.

H / Test & release decisions

H1
Required bare-board and assembled-product tests are separately defined.
H2
Programming and test access requirements have been reviewed with the test owner.
H3
Every unresolved item has an owner and an agreed next step or documented disposition.
H4
The final production package and all approved exceptions have a release record.

Nothing is saved after refresh or tab closure. Export before leaving. Notes remain in this browser until you download the CSV; the website does not receive them.

04 / Close the loop

Write findings that another engineer can act on.

01

Identify the feature

Use a reference designator, layer, hole identifier or drawing coordinate. “Please check this area” is less useful than a precise location and the conflicting requirement.

02

Separate an error from a question

A confirmed drawing conflict and an unconfirmed process capability require different actions. Keep both visible without implying that an unanswered question has already been accepted.

03

State the requested decision

Ask whether the design should change, the process should change or a documented exception is needed. Identify which owner can approve that decision.

04

Recheck after the change

A resolved issue can affect other outputs. Compare the revised file set and close the finding only against the revision that will actually be released.

Useful finding format: location → requirement → observed issue → proposed action → owner → verification evidence.
05 / Manufacturing handoff

Send the worksheet with a complete review package.

  1. 01

    Fabrication data

    Gerber or another agreed fabrication format, drill data, the finished outline and any special machining information.

  2. 02

    Build definition

    A drawing or specification that identifies material, copper, thickness, finish, tolerances and any controlled-impedance requirements.

  3. 03

    Assembly inputs

    For an assembled order, add the matching BOM, placement file, assembly drawing, variant notes and special process instructions.

  4. 04

    Open issue register

    Include the exported worksheet, questions needing a decision, approved exceptions and the release owner. Agree a secure file-transfer method separately.

The panel checks address delivered-array handling and component clearance; impedance checks address the agreed controlled structures and coupon scope.

Practical answers

Frequently asked questions

Check the design, files and manufacturing requirements before sending your next board for production.

Does this page automatically run DFM on my Gerber files?

No. This is a manual review worksheet. It does not accept uploads, inspect geometry or connect to a CAM engine. The status reflects the choice made by the person using the page.

What is the difference between Not reviewed and Not applicable?

Not reviewed means the check has not been completed or evidence is missing. Not applicable means the reviewer has determined that it does not apply to this project. Record the reason when that distinction may be important.

Will the CSV include rows hidden by a filter?

Yes. Export includes all 32 items, their statuses, notes, category, project name and revision. Filtering changes only what is shown on screen.

Does a fully assessed worksheet mean the design is approved?

No. Assessed includes items marked Needs review and Not applicable. Manufacturing release still requires the agreed decision process and approval of unresolved issues.

Can I continue the same worksheet after refreshing?

No. This version intentionally avoids persistent storage and server transmission. Download the CSV before refreshing or leaving. CSV import is not included.

Continue your design review

PCB Design Guidelines

Practical PCB design guidelines.

Read the Guide

PCB Panelization Guidelines

PCB panelization guidelines.

Read the Guide

Stackup & Impedance Design Guide

PCB stackup and impedance design guide.

Read the Guide
Technical references & scope notes
  1. KiCad 10 — PCB Editor manual
  2. Würth Elektronik — BASIC Design Rules (PDF)
  3. Würth Elektronik WEdirekt — Design Guide for PCBs from the online shop (PDF)
  4. KiCad — PCB Editor: Manufacturing Outputs and Design Rules
  5. Würth Elektronik — Technical Delivery Specification for PCBs (PDF)
  6. Kuttig Electronic — How to Design Panels of Printed Circuit Boards
  7. Polar Instruments — Controlled-impedance test coupons, AP124

References support general engineering guidance. Supplier-specific limits, example constructions and qualification results are not GlobalWellPCB capabilities. Use the approved project specification and confirmed manufacturing rules for each order. Content reviewed: September 2026.

GlobalWellPCB · Engineering resources

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