The first prototype answers an exciting question: does the idea actually work? The second prototype usually answers a more practical one: can the product work better and be built more consistently? This is where coordinated PCB and PCBA manufacturing and flexible PCB prototyping and assembly become particularly useful. Instead of viewing each prototype as an isolated order, development teams can use what they learn from one build to improve the next. The First Prototype Turns Assumptions Into Evidence Before a physical board exists, many engineering decisions are based on simulations, datasheets, calculations, and previous experience. Once the first boards arrive,…