I have spent over 25 years doing PCB's and have always been involved where possible with the assembly of my designs, quite often hands on especialy in the early days of SMD. So as well as the electrical reuirements of a design I keep up to date with all aspects of PCB manufacture and assembly, otherwise I cannot design boards to my expectations, which are very strict (very, I have a set of standards that I must work to, that are more stringent than most peoples).
I recieve monthy the main magazines related to both PCB design and assembly (and the various e-mail newsletters and updates), as well as being into high speed and SMPS layout. It is always a field that is changing fast so trying to keep up with all the new advances keeps me going.
That is my philosophy toward PCB design, and why sometimes my replies may seem a little curt, I dont mean to be, but I work to my set of standards always.