| The primary purposes of this research were: (1) to create a classification and coding, (C&C), system to facilitate CAD/CAM applications in the design and production of printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies, and (2) to develop software packages to demonstrate applications of the C&C system.; The C&C system consists of five schemes; namely, (1) part family classification for nine component types (viz. resistor, capacitor, inductor, diode, transistor, IC, relay, transformer, and connector), (2) part assembly attribute, (3) PCB assembly layout, (4) process and equipment/method, and (5) supplier coding. These schemes have been designed to facilitate many design and manufacturing activities and have real potential to reduce costs and improve manufacturing efficiency.; A substantial amount of software was developed on a DEC VAX computer operating under VMS to demonstrate the C&C system applications. A program was written in Pascal for interactive coding of electronic parts and PCB assemblies. A data base using the RIM-5 data base management system was created to support a number of applications. The application programs written in Pascal in this research include: manufacturability rating system of PCB assembly designs, design data retrieval for part selection, part substitution, and standardization, production equipment selection, ABC analysis of part families, mechanization of group purchasing, and many other data base utility programs. Some applications using the built-in query language of the data base were also developed.; The complete C&C system is described in the dissertation, but the applications programs are described only generally. More complete information on the computer programs may be obtained from the Department of Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7906. |
