Abstract: In one preferred embodiment, a management system is used for facilitating choosing components arranged on a variety of feeders of a surface mounting equipment. The management system comprises a plurality of storage integrated circuit (IC) cards. Each of the storage IC cards is mounted to a corresponding feeder. Each of the storage IC cards stores information about the corresponding feeder and the components arranged on the corresponding feeder. A controlling device is electrically connected to the storage IC cards for reading the information of the storage IC cards to identify the electronic components mounted on one of the feeders in response to a demand signal provided by the surface mounting equipment. The controlling device is capable of sending a feedback signal to the surface mounting equipment according to the read information and controls a pick-up arm of the surface mounting equipment to pick up components of a selected feeder.

Abstract: A method for managing feeders of a surface mount machine includes the steps of: initializing all IC cards of the feeders; scanning the feeders; inputting initial operational information of each feeder to a corresponding IC card and a first document; inputting current operational information of each feeder to its IC card and the first document periodically; determining whether the surface mount machine needs to continue operating; inputting end information to the corresponding IC card and the first document if the surface mount machine does not need to continue operating. A related system is also disclosed.