This reference was put together by mechanical engineer Crowson to equip executives, manufacturing professionals, and shop personnel with concise information on the manufacturing engineering perspective on finishing, packaging, and automation in assembly processes. A chapter on manual assembly discusses assembly work instructions, operation sequences, workstation and line layout, manufacturing methods analysis, principles of motion economy, and standard manufacturing process. Assembly automation is considered next in terms of types of assembly machines, motion systems, justifying automation, software interfaces to assembly automation, design for automated production, and automated material handling. The final chapter discusses electronics assembly and includes treatments of elementary subassemblies, chip carrier assemblies, hybrid microelectronics assemblies, printed wiring board assemblies, and system integration. Annotation ї 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR