A method for manufacturing an electronic control unit includes providing a printed circuit board with at least one electric component attached thereon. The method includes arranging a lower layer of thermal interface material on top of the electric component and arranging an integrated heat spreader on top of the lower layer. The method includes determining the distance of the top surface of the integrated heat spreader perpendicular to the printed circuit board and arranging an upper layer of thermal interface material on the top surface of the integrated heat spreader. A layer thickness of the upper layer is selected based on the determined distance. The method includes arranging a heat sink with a contact surface such that the contact surface contacts the upper layer.