Integration of image processing and automated testing in a manufacturing client-server network

The authors have been involved in the implementation of a total quality control project in a communications equipment company, whose products are mounted and tested in a manufacturing plant. The most significant products are RF and microwave amplifier boards with electronic components based on SMT technology. The first implementation of total quality control project was an ATE (Automated Test Equipment) LAN node that runs a program of verification for single-channel and multichannel electronic amplifiers. The last implementation is an automated inspection LAN node to detect the missing of SMT and non SMT components mounted in the electronic cards of above mentioned amplifiers. Both implementations are integrated in the enterprise database (AS400) through communication servers connected to its IBM Token Ring LAN, in a client-server architecture