"The Sprint That Changed Everything"
Imagine you’re in the middle of a sprint. Your team is finishing the design of a new user interface for a medical device. The client wants it light, modern, with touch and lighting in one panel. Someone at the daily meeting asks, “Can we use printed electronics for this?” Silence. One person says, “We don’t have time.” Another says, “We don’t know how to test it.” You – as the PM – need to decide.
Sounds familiar? That’s why we created this checklist. Not to convince you to use one specific technology, but to help you ask the right questions – to yourself, your team, and your partners. A good decision is based on facts, not guesses.
1. Functional and User Needs (Product Discovery)
- [ ] Does the product need to be small, flexible, or combine many functions in one layer?
[ ] Will the end user wear the product on the body or close to it (wearables, medtech, mobility)?
[ ] Do you want to reduce the number of components, the weight, or the thickness of the device?
[ ] Are you planning to include backlighting, sensors, or touch interface in one solution?
[ ] Will the product work in difficult conditions (moisture, UV, bending, abrasion)?
📌 If you answered “yes” to 2 or more questions – printed electronics could be the right direction.
2. Team and Skills (Sprint Planning & Team Readiness)
[ ] Does your team have experience with materials like PET, TPU, and conductive inks?
[ ] Do you have access to an application engineer or a technology partner?
[ ] Does the R&D team know the differences between PCB and printed electronics (e.g. tolerances, fatigue testing)?
[ ] Have you planned time in the project backlog for prototyping and testing?
[ ] Does your team use CAM/EDA tools that support printed layers?
📌 Missing skills are not a problem – but you need to plan for external support.
3. Testing and Validation (Sprint Review & QA)
[ ] Are environmental tests planned (moisture, UV, temperature)?
[ ] Have you planned fatigue tests (bending, abrasion, use cycles)?
[ ] Will the product need to meet standards (RoHS, ISO, IPC)?
[ ] Do you have a plan to test your MVP before moving to production?
[ ] Do you have access to a test lab or a partner who offers one?
📌 Testing is not a cost – it’s protection for your sprint against regressions and bugs.
4. Cost and Timeline (Backlog Grooming & Budgeting)
[ ] Have you done a TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis, not just unit price?
[ ] Did you include savings from fewer parts and less assembly work?
[ ] Is the project for short series, prototypes, or personalized units – where no molds are a big benefit?
[ ] Does your schedule use iterative planning (e.g. 2–3 week sprints)?
[ ] Is there time in the schedule for MVP testing and improvements?
📌 Printed electronics may cost more at the start – but less over the full product life.
5. Partnership and Risk (Risk Review & Stakeholder Alignment)
[ ] Do you have a trusted technology partner who understands your industry?
[ ] Does the partner offer more than production – like consulting, testing, and documentation?
[ ] Are you planning sprint reviews with the supplier (e.g. every 2 weeks)?
[ ] Have you listed risks (materials, availability, compliance)?
[ ] Do you have a backup plan in case of delays or problems?
📌 Working with a partner is not a cost – it reduces risk and speeds up sprints.
Summary: A Decision Is Not Pressure – It’s Qualification
In the spirit of the Sandler method – the goal is not to convince you, but to help you make an informed decision. If, after this checklist, you see that printed electronics can solve real problems in your project – let’s talk. If not – that’s a good decision too.
✅ Download the checklist as a PDF or import it into Confluence/Notion
📅 Book a 30-minute call with an LC Elektronik engineer – no pressure, no sales talk
📚 Read a case study from mobility or medtech – and see how other PMs used printed electronics