Part 2：What Advantages does IPC 2581 Offer
The IPC 2581 format protects your data security, reduces the back-and-forth between you and PCB manufacturers, reduces the generation of numerous files for PCB manufacturing, assembly, testing, and lowers than chances of design negligence and misinterpretation.
The IPC-2581 PCB format offers you these advantages:
PCB design and CAM convenience - an IPC-2581 file is all-in-one. It contains all information necessary for PCB production, assembly, and tests. With the IPC 2581 format, you no longer need drill files when your design has buried/blind vias, pick-and-place coordinates (and sometimes drawings) when you need PCB assembly.
Data security - it's merely impossible to re-engineer the circuit design through only the Gerber file. Because IPC 2581 contains all smart data, you may worry about the data breach. It's unnecessary. The IPC 2581 format allows you to send only the stack-up data to manufacturers, and it's also hard to re-engineer from it.
Lower risk of miscommunication - the engineers from the manufacturing side will find IPC-2581 a superior method of importing PCB designs, including netlist and pick-and-place-coordinates, with much lower risks of miscommunication.
Versatility - from original electronic manufacturers (OEM), EDA software, electronic design solutions, PCB manufacturing, assembly, testing, a complete IPC-2581 supply chain has been built and is getting more and more members.
Smaller economic risk - without so many files for PCB drilling, assembly, testing, you won't miss any place and cause losses when you update your circuit, and on the manufacturing side, we also don't worry about DFM/CAM carelessness and cause economic losses.
Besides, the IPC-2581 allows bi-directional communication between your and PCB manufacturers.