An HDI DFM release checklist closes specific manufacturing questions before the files become an order. Use it as a signed issue list with owners and dispositions. It complements the design guidelines: the purpose here is to establish whether the actual released package is internally consistent and ready for a supplier review.
Confirm the controlling revision
Name the board, revision, file date and package owner. Include a manifest of fabrication, drill, netlist and drawing files. Remove obsolete exports from the release package so the supplier is not asked to choose between conflicting versions. Identify assembly variants separately from the bare-board revision.
Compare the rendered manufacturing data with the native design. Check board outline, units, layer polarity, drill alignment and feature placement. A successful file export is not evidence that the intended board has been described correctly.
Release review table
| Check | Evidence required before closure |
|---|---|
| Stackup and layer order | Approved drawing with material and thickness requirements |
| Via schedule | Allowed spans, geometry, fill and pad rules matched to drill data |
| Copper and clearances | Review of critical spacing, planes and local neck-downs |
| Impedance | Defined structures, targets and approved adjustment rules |
| Acceptance plan | Required tests, coupons, criteria and retained records |
| Supplier exceptions | Written disposition of every proposed construction change |
Resolve comments with traceable decisions
Assign each DFM question to an engineering owner. A disposition should state whether the design changes, the supplier changes its proposal, or an explicit exception is accepted. Link the decision to the revised file or drawing. “Discussed by phone” is not enough to reproduce the decision on a later order.
Separate unresolved mandatory issues from preferences that can be considered in a future revision. This keeps release decisions clear while preserving improvement opportunities. Do not mark an item complete merely because a quotation arrived.
Final handoff
Re-run the relevant checks after a file changes and confirm that the package manifest still points to the correct revision. Record the supplier's final approved stackup and construction alongside the purchase order. Identify who can authorize subsequent deviations.
For a repeat build, check for changes in component, material, supplier or acceptance requirements before reusing the prior approval. The browser RFQ checker can identify missing BOM columns and MPNs, but it does not perform all HDI fabrication checks. Use this checklist to organize the remaining engineering review and attach unresolved questions to the quote request.
Continue the engineering review
- HDI PCB design guidelines
- HDI PCB manufacturing requirements
- How to evaluate an HDI PCB manufacturer
- HDI PCB engineering hub
Open the related planning tool. Review its assumptions before using an estimate in a design decision.
Review your HDI requirements
Share the board revision, proposed stackup, quantity and open questions. Include the requirements discussed in this guide so the project review starts with the same assumptions.