Why Specialized Wire Harness Design Software Matters

If you're still designing wire harnesses in generic CAD software or managing BOMs in spreadsheets, you're not alone—but you're also leaving significant efficiency gains on the table. Purpose-built wiring harness software can reduce design time by 50-70%, eliminate costly documentation errors, and ensure manufacturing-ready outputs from day one.

Unlike general-purpose CAD tools, specialized electrical system design software understands the unique requirements of wire harness engineering: connector pin mappings, wire gauge calculations, bundling strategies, and compliance with industry standards like IPC/WHMA-A-620 and AS9100.

Key Features to Evaluate in Harness Design Software

1. Automated BOM and Cutlist Generation

The #1 time-saver in any wire harness design tool is automated documentation. Look for software that generates Bills of Materials and cutlists in real-time as you design, not as a separate post-processing step.

What to look for:

✓Real-time BOM updates as design changes are made
✓Automatic wire length calculations including service loops
✓Multi-format exports (CSV, JSON, Excel, PDF)
✓Integration with ERP/MRP systems

2. Comprehensive Connector Management

Professional harnessing software must include robust connector libraries and pin management. You should be able to define connector specifications once and reuse them across projects while maintaining proper pin-to-wire mappings.

Essential connector features:

✓Extensive connector library (Deutsch, Amphenol, TE, etc.)
✓Custom connector definition capabilities
✓Mating connector validation
✓Backshell and accessory management
✓Pin contact specification tracking

3. Design Rule Checking (DRC)

Real-time validation catches errors before they become expensive manufacturing problems. The best electrical CAD software includes built-in design rule checking that validates your harness design against industry standards and your company's internal requirements.

4. Wire Derating and Gauge Selection

For aerospace and automotive applications especially, automatic wire gauge selection based on current loads, ambient temperature, bundling factors, and insulation types is non-negotiable. Look for software that complies with MIL-STD-5088, SAE AS50881, and other relevant standards.

5. Multi-View Design Capability

Professional electrical system design requires multiple perspectives. Top-tier wire harness software provides:

•Functional views for high-level system architecture
•Logical views for signal flow and connectivity
•Harness views for physical routing and assembly
•Topology views for system-level visualization

Industry-Specific Considerations

Aerospace & Defense

Aerospace wiring harness design demands rigorous documentation and compliance. Ensure your software supports:

• AS9100 traceability and documentation
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 compliance validation
• MIL-STD wire specifications
• Complete material certification tracking

Automotive

Automotive harness design software should handle:

• High-voltage cable design for EVs
• CAN bus, LIN, and FlexRay network support
• IATF 16949 quality management
• Fuse and relay box integration

Industrial Manufacturing

For industrial control panels and machinery:

• Three-phase power distribution design
• Terminal block and din rail management
• PLC integration and I/O mapping
• Safety circuit validation (EN ISO 13849)

Deployment Options: Cloud vs. On-Premises

Modern ECAD software should offer flexible deployment:

Cloud SaaS

Best for:

• Distributed teams
• Fast deployment
• Automatic updates
• Lower upfront costs

On-Premises

Best for:

• Data sovereignty requirements
• Air-gapped environments
• Complete control
• Defense/classified work

Making the Final Decision

When evaluating wire harness design software, create a weighted scorecard based on your team's priorities:

1.Request demos from 3-5 vendors with your actual design data
2.Involve your entire engineering team in the evaluation
3.Test with a real project during trial period
4.Evaluate vendor support and training offerings
5.Calculate total cost of ownership over 3-5 years
6.Check customer references in your industry

Why WireIt Stands Out

WireIt was built from the ground up to address the shortcomings we saw in traditional electrical design tools. Our platform combines:

✓100% automated BOM and cutlist generation with zero manual input
✓Real-time DRC that catches errors as you design, not after
✓Industry compliance built-in (IPC/WHMA, AS9100, ISO 26262)
✓Flexible deployment with cloud, on-premises, and hybrid options
✓Production-ready outputs from day one, no post-processing needed