Hi
Liam,
I’m
not exactly sure which perspective you’re looking for. So below
are what I came up with:
1.
What is the biggest business
related challenge you face as a designer?
·
As a designer I am often on the
sidelines, affected by, or consulting end of the business decisions.
o
Budgets are decided by other
departments and sometimes I get to have input.
o
Design criteria is first set by
the Marketing group, Mechanical engineers, ASIC engineers, Electrical
engineers, Assembly house limits, and Fabricators limits. Then, as the
designer, I make the criteria all work together and play nice before the
Purchasing department gets hold of it.
o
Fabrication sales people are
constantly contacting me to use them for my product. This is ok. While most
of the time I cannot make the final decision, I can have some input.
o
Assemblers seldom contact me and I
always have to hunt them down when I need them for small jobs. And they
are not very responsive to small jobs as it is difficult to set up, find parts,
and create tooling at a reasonable cost.
2.
If you are an independent
designer/consultant, how do you currently develop the majority of your clients?
·
I am not an independent designer
or consultant at this time. I have been in the past. At that time,
I found word of mouth to be the best tool for obtaining clients. Many of
the other independent designers I know also rely on this. Organizations
such as the IPC DC, IEEE, EMA, and Contract JobHunter are good resources to
make contacts.
3.
What online tools, if any, do you
use on a regular basis?
·
Jack brought up some great tools. I
use these as well.
4.
What traditional marketing tools,
if any, do you use on a regular basis?
·
Again, I have to agree with Jack. Designers
don’t often use a marketing tool. When I look for clients or jobs,
I go to the places I mentioned in #2.
·
If you are looking for “What
marketing tools do I use to FIND other SERVICES or DATA…” that’s
different. I use the internet and search for the particular item I need. Mostly,
that’s going to be part data. Sometimes, technical data on new
techniques or advances in fabrication or assembly.
5.
Do you think that the internet is
going to play a key role in your business in the future? Why/why not?
·
Yes & No.
·
YES - For technical information,
it can be a great resource.
·
NO – I have seen many companies
list exaggerated capabilities on their web sites. They will put the high
end maximum cost capabilities and list them like it’s a nominal procedure
at nominal cost until you get the real quote.
·
Also, I’m still a little
slow at adopting some of the internet tools such as twitter, LinkedIn, and
others. However, I can see that these types of resources are going to
become the next “meet & greet” places for making contacts.
I really have to know someone, have recommendations,
and try out a product before recommending that our company uses any resource. Sometimes
that carries weight and sometimes it doesn’t.
Good Luck!
Cherie
PCB Design Tech Lead
SonoSite, Inc.
IPC Certified Instructor
Office: 425-951-1306
Cell: 206-619-8844