DFM Checklist

The DFM Checklist: 20 Questions to Ask Before You Release Files

A practical, engineering-grade checklist that covers everything from stackup and footprints to test coverage and mechanical tolerance — before your Gerbers leave your hands.

HarQuinn Tech

Engineering Team

6 min read

You've finished layout, the DRC is clean, and you're ready to release files to the CM. Before you do, run through this checklist. It takes 30–60 minutes. It has prevented re-spins on more programs than we can count. Every question on this list corresponds to a real failure mode we've seen in production.

Fabrication

PCB Fabrication

Manufacturer's DRC file imported and all violations resolved

Controlled impedance traces specified in fab notes with target values and tolerance

Stackup confirmed with manufacturer — layer count, copper weights, dielectric specified

Surface finish specified (HASL, ENIG, OSP) appropriate for component types

Back-drilling specified for any through-hole vias carrying signals above 3 Gbps

Assembly

Component & Assembly

Every footprint cross-checked against manufacturer's recommended land pattern in datasheet

Polarity and pin 1 markings visible on silkscreen for all polarized components

Component clearances verified — no components within 0.25mm of board edge or each other

Moisture-sensitive devices (MSDs) identified and noted in assembly instructions

Paste stencil aperture sizes reviewed for fine-pitch and thermal pad components

Bill of Materials

BOM

All components checked for availability — no parts on allocation or end-of-life

Approved alternates documented for all high-risk or long-lead components

Packaging type specified (tape-and-reel, tube, tray) for production quantities

Test & Mechanical

Testability & Mechanical

Test points present on all power rails and critical signal nets

Test specification written — defines what to test and what a passing result looks like

Board outline and mounting hole positions verified against enclosure tolerances

Connector keepout zones clear — mating connectors have sufficient access clearance

Assembly drawing complete — orientation notes, special handling requirements documented

"This checklist doesn't replace a DFM audit — it's what you run the night before files go out. The audit goes deeper and catches the things this list can't."

If you've worked through this checklist and still have questions about your design's production readiness, a full DFM audit is the next step. We review against all 20 points on this list plus an additional 50+ checks covering SI, thermal, EMC, and supply chain risk — and we deliver the report in 48 hours.

Want the Full 70-Point DFM Audit?

This checklist is the starting point. Our full DFM audit goes deeper and delivers a report in 48 hours.

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