THERE IS A NEED FOR FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ON AN ITEM-BY-ITEM BASIS, ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO CHANGES IMPOSED BY GLOBAL MARKETS. SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES A MEANS TO ACHIEVE PARTS ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE BOARDS VARYING IN SIZE, COMPONENT CONTENT, COMPONENT DENSITY AND LAYOUT. THIS NECESSITATES FLEXIBLE AND INTELLIGENTLY GUIDED COMPONENT PLACEMENT, VERIFICATION OF COMPONENTS BEFORE INSTALLATION TO PREVENT INCORRECT PLACEMENT AND FINALLY ON-LINE INSPECTION TO VERIFY PROPER COMPONENT ORIENTATION AND POSITIONING PRIOR TO SOLDER REFLOW FOR MINIMIZING REWORK AND REJECT COSTS.