Abstract: An improved method for instructing how to most efficiently effect a product changeover on an assembly line includes the steps of providing an instructional animation which schematically shows the steps which are to be taken by a plurality of workers to effect the changeover. Preferably, the animation is a computer animation, and includes color-coded representations of the various workers and the steps that should be taken in a particular sequence. Preferably, the workers are also provided with instructional badges which could be carried by the workers, and which are also color-coded. The animation will also include access to these color-coded instruction to provide further feedback to both the worker, and the supervisory personnel of the steps an individual worker should be taking during a particular point in the assembly in changeover.

Abstract: A server exchange utility for exchanging manufacturing information from a number of geographically dispersed sites is provided in combination with a difference editor for comparing differences between objects representing the manufacturing information. The exchange utility stores all manufacturing information at a central location including global manufacturing information and copies of local manufacturing information for each manufacturing site. The difference editor uses a GUI to provides an organized, easy-to-read interface to the system.

Abstract: An improved method for instructing how to most efficiently effect a product changeover on an assembly line includes the steps of providing an instructional animation which schematically shows the steps which are to be taken by a plurality of workers to effect the changeover. Preferably, the animation is a computer animation, and includes color-coded representations of the various workers and the steps that should be taken in a particular sequence. Preferably, the workers are also provided with instructional badges which could be carried by the workers, and which are also color-coded. The animation will also include access to these color-coded instruction to provide further feedback to both the worker, and the supervisory personnel of the steps an individual worker should be taking during a particular point in the assembly in changeover.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel naming and manipulation functions for user defined data structures in a data system using transaction service. In particular, in an electronics assembly engineering system having a computer subsystem in which user-defined data structures accessible to editor software have referential integrity and in which user modifications to the data structures during editing are made directly to the data structures rather than indirectly by way of a temporary file, the invention provides a method for permitting naming and manipulation of the data structures. The method includes the steps of (i) providing close, discard and rename functions for the data structures in the case where a newly-created data structure is being edited; (ii) providing close and copy functions for the data structures if an existing data structure is being edited; and (iii) excluding a save-as function for the data structures.