After thoroughly analysing the needs of the PCB industry through close collaboration with several PCB manufacturing companies and with an understanding of ongoing activities of IPC software guidelines, the author's company has designed a highly comprehensive Advanced Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) to manage the overall PCB operation with emphasis on production planning and scheduling. This computer system enables the user to achieve real‐time on‐line control of the entire PCB manufacturing operation from quotations through order entry, order edit, production planning and scheduling to shipments including invoicing, accounting, purchasing and keeping track of inventory.