DCA Design International
Warwick
DCA Design International is a product design consultancy based in Warwick, covering a wide range of sectors including industrial, medical, scientific, and consumer products. Their work includes a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical and industrial design; human factors analysis; and electronics and software. In my placement here, I have been working on the electronics team and have been involved with various projects.
My main task during this placement has been the modelling of battery performance and capacity in product-specific environmental and load conditions. This has involved the creation of test setups to understand the device's current consumption and the resulting battery performance. I have also been involved in several other projects, completing smaller tasks as required, from building end-of-line test machines to assembling test rigs. Some of these have consisted of building demonstration devices for clients, many of whom might have a non-technical background, or who may not have significant electronics knowledge.
I have had to apply different analysis techniques to a wide range of circuits and datasets, ranging from frequency domain techniques to statistical predictions. I have also been introduced to the practical side of EMC, including pre-complicance diagnosis, the designing of filtering components and conducted emissions testing at a test lab. These are not necessarily taught at university but are an important part of the design of any device. I have learned how Altium and other CAD is used in a professional environment and the ability to quickly read and understand the function of a circuit from the schematic. My range of soldering capabilities has expanded to the use of IR heating, reflow ovens and BGA rework stations.
I have worked closely with other disciplines on the different projects. This has principally been with the software team, who need to be consulted during the design of an embedded device, but has also included many mechanical engineers and human factors specialists. This requires strong communication skills, including a good understanding of what is relevant for people who, despite being technically literate, often understand little about electronics specifically. I have also been introduced to new concepts, such as that of a quality management system and the different levels of regulation for medical devices. This has required me to be organised and thorough, ensuring that I record my work according to set procedures. All work I produce has to be reviewed by another person, demanding a high level of attention and care from my work.