Most PCB design companies provide custom designed electronic circuitry. The PCBs are specifically designed for customers and not merely mass-produced as a "one PCB design fits all" concept. The following pages give guidelines on how the PCBs are designed and manufactured.

PCB design and manufacturing is a very tedious process that involves many areas of expertise. This includes CAD engineers, electronic engineers, researchers, designers, and materials engineers.

Economy is the main factor to consider during manufacture of the PCB. Most manufacturers and customers opt for double-sided laminate PCB boards as it can be mounted with components on both sides of the board instead of only one side. This saves space and cost, whereby making the final product more effective.

However, double-sided laminate PCB boards require special soldering techniques for the components, or else the components would not be mounted on the circuit board in an effective manner. The latest technology in this area is called "Surface Mounted Technology" (SMT). This technology is further enhanced by "Surface Mounted Devices"(SMD), devices capable of complex functions to enhance the SMT.

This does not mean that manufacturers abandon the conventional circuitry and single sided laminate PCB. This is still produced as and when needed, sometimes being mixed and simultaneously produced with SMT on the same PCB board. This might be a problem, though, as both techniques require different methods of insertion and soldering for the components. Conventional circuitry is generally easier to debug and repair than Surface Mount.

A PCB laminate may be manufactured with more than two layers of copper tracks by using a sandwich construction. The cost of the laminate reflects the number of layers. The extra layers may be used to route more complicated circuitry, and/or distribute the power supply more effectively. The cost of production would increase with laminates such as these but since the final product might be a complex piece of machinery or automation system, it would be well worth to invest in a multiplayer PCB, as it would save space and time that a conventional single-sided PCB would consume. After all, quality matters and the customer would be willing to pay that extra dollar for a machine with good internal circuitry!

PCBs are widely produced and manufacturers are getting savvy these days to suit the discerning taste of customers. For example, a new type of flexible PCB has been invented. It is a technique used extensively with membrane keyboards, combination connectors, and circuit boards to fit in awkward shapes – such as cameras.

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