If you could automate one part of your design workflow, what would it be? We are asking e14 in our Join, Share & Win Competition

The whole part about find the right documents and products. Softwars, IDE's . Coding  and compiling the software for the project that pops in your head only to find out you don't have the right equipment or PC that's compatible to start up your design 

I will go with soldering for now. Some kind of reflow system is on my bucket list, although the overhead associated with automation downgrades the urgency to set up most automated systems. Some other automated systems on the list would include a CNC router, a laser cutter and a CNC mill. A handheld inkjet printer for printing labels directly on surfaces is also on the list.

*** idk why but that's the one thing I love. drawing out a diagram of how I'ma layout my pcb and where I'ma place the components and add enough space for connector and power rails and my ground plane and  soldering by far the best don't matter how small the semiconductor are I lay them down with precious. The fumes I don't like tho 

I find that searching for dropped parts is aided by a bright narrow beam torch. It helps you focus just on the illuminated area and sometimes the extra relative brightness makes the parts twinkle as the light sweeps over a reflective edge.

Better to not drop them, get a non-bounce mat and hold the target part a few inches into the centre of the bench.

This reminds me that I would like a device to attach to my headband magnifier so that when I lose it (several times a day) I can call it and it will beep back at me.

MK

I personally am not happy with the enclosures I build, I make crooked cuts and non-linear holes (using hand tools). Sometimes it would be more useful to 3D print them somewhere (at least).

If I were running a prototype lab for a large organisation it might make sense but as things stand I'll have to settle for making small and low cost improvements to technique.

The biggest steps in prototype building were 

a hand powered XY pick an place machine (this makes getting the bits in the right place on solder paste much faster.

manual solder paste stencil printer and a reasonably good IR reflow machine

(both from CIF)

MK

Oddly enough, translating datasheets ... I like using a lot of strange parts ...

- Gough

Maybe not strictly related to design, but I would like to automate component search for EOL substitutions.

Maybe DeepL could help here, I found it to be quite good on technical documents

If it's meant to include AI in the mix, then I would say automated design review to analyse constraints and limits. For example, if the board is going to be EMC tested etc. then you could get the system to check what components are used and the whether it will pass or fail. Often overlooked is the protection circuitry against certain standards etc.

If the power behind AI is comprehension (i.e. being able to read through and evaluate all the datasheets) then it can readily deliver a summary on performance based on a paper review.