New machines for old (manufacturing computer control)

ICL is currently implementing a phased CIM strategy at its printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing site at Kidsgrove. The manufacturing process begins with laminate and components entering the factory, and ends with tested PCBs leaving to be fitted into products at ICL's assembly plants or stored for field spares. The author shows that one of the major problems in installing computer-integrated and flexible manufacturing systems (for PCB production applications) is the integration of existing numerically controlled machines.<
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