Production Testing in the Automatic Factory

Progress in the mechanization of production testing of electronic products is reviewed. Several test equipments are described and evaluated. The necessity for considering the quality monitoring function of production as a continous and integrated system is emphasized. This approach enables the test process planner to utilize the powerful tools of operations research in determining the nature of the test equipment and procedures required for optimum operation. A test system for the automatic factory is described. This system calls for the more efficient use of statistical sampling techniques as well as the more efficient feedback of test data. Within the framework of this system, new requirements on test equipment have been developed. The activities of an industrywide RETMA Task Group on Standards for Product Testing in Mechanized Production is described.