How PCB designers can use IPC specifications for DFM

IPC Documentation covers hundreds of specifications designed to improve the overall reliability of a PCB throughout its product lifecycle. The specifications and classes developed by IPC are ubiquitous across the industry and form the de facto standards adopted by many organizations. When setting up a DFM ruleset many are tempted to simply adopt these IPC standards as a basis for their DFM process and allow these constraints to drive the quality of their product. This line of thought is pervasive throughout the industry but represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how IPC specifications relate to DFM Rules.