Engineer’s Information Journey – Research Report for Electronics & Control Engineers

Research Overview

A comprehensive study revealing how electronics and control engineers source information during the design process, what content they trust most, and the gaps in available resources.

Key Finding

45% of engineers use community forums as an information source, demonstrating that peer collaboration is essential to engineering workflows alongside traditional authoritative sources.

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Core Insights

Hybrid Information Approach

Engineers don't rely on single sources. Those using community forums also heavily utilize manufacturer websites, search engines, and distributor sites, creating a multi-layered information strategy.

Universal Dependencies

Regardless of engineering discipline, 77% rely on datasheets and specification sheets as their primary technical reference, highlighting the critical importance of comprehensive product documentation.

Content Gap Opportunity

Engineers consistently want more practical resources

49%

want product comparisons

45%

want tutorials (written and video)

50%

want technical articles

Engineer Type Differences

Electronics Engineers favor collaborative problem-solving, heavily using datasheets (77%), application notes (63%) and reference designs (45%) alongside community insights.

Control Engineers rely most on datasheets (77%), technical articles (63%), and user manuals (62%).

Bottom Line

While both engineer types share core information needs, electronics engineers lean toward collaborative technical guidance, while control engineers favor direct, authoritative documentation. Both groups signal clear demand for more comparative analysis and hands-on learning content.

‍Source: EETech Group 2024 Engineering Insights Report

The Engineer's Information Journey