Tara Dunn on cost drivers
From Tara Dunn on Flex Cost Drivers and Next Gen Technologists [OnTrack Podcast] · · Altium
“We often talk about three primary cost drivers: materials selection, panel utilization, and technology. I kind of like to throw, a little bit tongue-in-cheek but not really, a fourth one in there, which is understanding your fabricators capabilities and making sure that you're matching their capabilities with your design.”
On , Tara Dunn, Senior Vice President & GM of LimFlow at INARI MEDICAL INC, spoke about cost drivers during Tara Dunn on Flex Cost Drivers and Next Gen Technologists [OnTrack Podcast] on Altium.
![Tara Dunn on Flex Cost Drivers and Next Gen Technologists [OnTrack Podcast]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YuI3ftoJP38/0.jpg)
About Tara Dunn
Tara Dunn, Senior Vice President and General Manager of LimFlow at Inari Medical, appeared on the OnTrack Podcast in September 2018, where she discussed cost drivers in flex circuit design and workforce development. Dunn identified three primary cost drivers—materials selection, panel utilization, and technology—and added a fourth: understanding a fabricator's capabilities. She noted that adhesive-based materials are typically less expensive for simpler applications, while adhesive-less materials are recommended for higher layer counts and rigid flex. Dunn described a case where switching to adhesive-less materials in a military application eliminated a 90% field failure rate due to cracking, despite only reducing thickness by three mils. She advised designers to involve fabricators early in the process to leverage their expertise. Dunn also discussed the Flex Factor program by Next Flex, an entrepreneurship program that exposes high school students to flexible hybrid electronics and advanced manufacturing. She stated that the program grew from eight students in 2016 to thousands, and that visits to manufacturing facilities help change students' perceptions of the industry. Dunn reflected on her own early career experience working on the manufacturing floor, which she described as invaluable. She mentioned that her job allows her to travel and work remotely, and that she has recently taken up attending live concerts.