PROCESS AND PRODUCTION PLANNING FOR CIRCUIT-BOARD ASSEMBLY

Process planning output can be post-processed into criteria for job sc heduling decisions in printed circuit board assembly using surface-mou nt technology (SMT). Artificial intelligence-based techniques used in computerized planning and scheduling systems in other industries can b e extended to printed circuit board operations. These techniques inclu de blackboard architectures, object-oriented programming systems, and nonmonotonic reasoning systems. These techniques were used to demonstr ate a unique architecture of blackboard systems that communicate via o bject-oriented messages to arrive at a shop-floor process plan and pro duction schedule. The methodology was specialized to the assembly of p rinted circuit boards using surface-mounted components in a high-varie ty/low-volume product mix. The assembly facility was represented as a hierarchical object of product, process, and organizational knowledge. The system of working heuristics was integrated within a prototype en vironment with the practitioners that assisted in its development. The end result is a good working methodology for system development, impl ementation, and maintenance by knowledge worker involvement.