AN AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING DATA COLLECTION AND CONTROL SYSTEM, RECENTLY DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED FOR A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF AUTOMOTIVE AIRBAGS, PROVIDES A REAL-TIME MECHANISM TO COLLECT PRODUCTION AND PROCESS DATA FOR EACH AIRBAG INFLATOR BY USING A BAR-CODED SENIOR NUMBER TAGGED TO EACH AIRBAG INFLATOR DURING ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURING ASSEMBLY PROCESS REQUIRED A MULTITASKING SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTED HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME, IN-PROCESS VERIFICATION OF CORRECT PART ASSMEBLY, COMPONENT LOG TRACKING, AND VERIFICATION OF CORRENT COMPONENT PART LOT BEFORE ASSEMBLY. THE SYSTEM PROVIDES ASSEMBLY TRACKING AND PRODUCTION DATA COLLECTION OF THE AIRBAG INFLATOR AS IT IS BUILT.