Abstract: An automated setup verification system provides a means and method for rapidly and accurately verifying that the component feeder magazines on a surface mount technology placement machine are correctly installed for manufacturing a selected printing wiring assembly. The system prevents manufacture until machine setup is verified correct, thus preventing manufacture of a large number of defective assemblies when there has been erroneous placement of component feeder magazines. The system comprises a local area controller which contains design and machine information, a programmable logic controller, a bar code scanning and proximity detection system, a test station for testing a sample component from a component feeder magazine, and a structural bridging and spanning assembly for adapting the invention to an existing surface mount technology placement machine. An operator associates a component to a component reel and a component feeder magazine in the local area controller using a bar code system.