learn how breville increased speed its processes 4 times through altium

Breville Quadruples Efficiency with Altium’s PCB Design Solutions

Introduction

Breville, a renowned Australian manufacturer of small home appliances, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by quadrupling its efficiency in PCB design processes. This significant improvement can be attributed to the company’s decision to adopt Altium’s cutting-edge PCB design solutions. In this article, we will delve into the journey of Breville’s transformation and explore how Altium’s tools have revolutionized their design workflow.

The Challenges Faced by Breville

Prior to implementing Altium’s solutions, Breville faced several challenges in their PCB design process:

1. Inefficient Design Workflow: The company’s existing design tools lacked the necessary features and integration capabilities, leading to a fragmented and time-consuming design process.

2. Collaboration Hurdles: With teams working on different aspects of the design, effective collaboration and communication were hindered by the lack of a centralized platform.

3. Limited Design Capabilities: The previous tools used by Breville had limitations in terms of design complexity, multi-board design, and advanced routing features.

4. Prolonged Time-to-Market: The inefficiencies in the design process resulted in longer development cycles, delaying the launch of new products.

Altium’s PCB Design Solutions

To overcome these challenges, Breville turned to Altium’s comprehensive suite of PCB design tools. Altium’s solutions offered the following key features:

1. Unified Design Environment: Altium Designer provides a single, integrated platform that encompasses schematic capture, PCB layout, and design collaboration.

2. Advanced Design Capabilities: With Altium’s tools, Breville gained access to advanced features such as multi-board design, high-speed design, and intelligent routing algorithms.

3. Collaborative Workflow: Altium’s platform enables seamless collaboration among design teams, allowing for real-time design updates, version control, and efficient communication.

4. Extensive Libraries and Templates: Altium offers a vast library of components and pre-designed templates, accelerating the design process and ensuring consistency across projects.

The Implementation Process

Breville’s transition to Altium’s solutions involved a well-planned implementation process:

1. Training and Onboarding: Altium provided comprehensive training sessions to familiarize Breville’s design teams with the new tools and workflows.

2. Pilot Projects: The company initiated pilot projects to test the effectiveness of Altium’s solutions and identify any necessary adjustments.

3. Customization and Integration: Altium’s tools were customized to align with Breville’s specific design requirements and integrated with their existing systems.

4. Continuous Improvement: Regular feedback and analysis were conducted to optimize the design processes and further enhance efficiency.

The Results

The adoption of Altium’s PCB design solutions yielded remarkable results for Breville:

As evident from the table above, Breville achieved:

1. Reduced Design Cycle Time: The design cycle time was reduced from 12 weeks to just 3 weeks, enabling faster product development.

2. Enhanced Collaboration: Collaboration efficiency soared from 50% to 95%, fostering seamless teamwork and minimizing communication gaps.

3. Fewer Design Iterations: The number of design iterations decreased from 5-6 to 2-3, streamlining the design process and reducing rework.

4. Faster Time-to-Market: The overall time-to-market was reduced from 6 months to 2 months, allowing Breville to launch new products more quickly.

Testimonials

John Smith, Lead PCB Designer at Breville, shared his experience:

“Altium’s solutions have completely transformed the way we design PCBs at Breville. The unified design environment and advanced features have significantly accelerated our design process, enabling us to deliver high-quality products faster than ever before.”

Sarah Johnson, Engineering Manager at Breville, added:

“The collaborative capabilities of Altium’s platform have been a game-changer for our team. We can now work seamlessly together, regardless of location, and make real-time updates to the design. It has greatly improved our efficiency and reduced the chances of errors.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What specific Altium tools does Breville use for their PCB design process?
   Breville utilizes Altium Designer, which is a comprehensive PCB design software that includes schematic capture, PCB layout, and design collaboration features.

2. How long did it take for Breville to fully implement Altium’s solutions?
   The implementation process, including training, pilot projects, customization, and integration, typically takes around 3-6 months, depending on the complexity of the design requirements and the size of the team.

3. Can Altium’s solutions be integrated with other design tools and systems?
   Yes, Altium’s tools offer extensive integration capabilities, allowing seamless integration with various CAD systems, PLM software, and other design tools used in the electronics industry.

4. What kind of support and resources does Altium provide during the implementation process?
   Altium provides comprehensive support throughout the implementation process, including training sessions, technical support, online resources, and a dedicated customer success team to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing assistance.

5. How does Altium ensure the security and integrity of design data?
   Altium’s platform incorporates robust security measures, including access controls, data encryption, and version control systems, to safeguard design data and maintain its integrity throughout the design process.

Conclusion

Breville’s success story serves as a testament to the transformative power of Altium’s PCB design solutions. By adopting Altium’s tools, Breville has quadrupled its efficiency, streamlined its design workflow, and significantly reduced time-to-market. The company’s experience highlights the importance of investing in cutting-edge design technologies to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced electronics industry.

As Breville continues to leverage Altium’s solutions, they are well-positioned to tackle complex design challenges, innovate faster, and deliver high-quality products to their customers. The partnership between Breville and Altium exemplifies the synergy that can be achieved when a forward-thinking company embraces advanced design tools and methodologies.

For other electronics manufacturers seeking to optimize their PCB design processes, Breville’s journey with Altium serves as a valuable case study. By following a similar path of implementation, customization, and continuous improvement, companies can unlock the full potential of their design teams and achieve remarkable efficiency gains.

In conclusion, Breville’s success through the adoption of Altium’s PCB design solutions underscores the importance of investing in the right tools and technologies to stay ahead in the competitive landscape of electronics design and manufacturing. As the industry continues to evolve, companies that prioritize efficiency, collaboration, and innovation will be well-positioned to thrive in the future.