Computer directed assembly method and system for manufacturing

A computer system for generating a computer-implemented sequence of assembly operations to assist an assembler when creating a manufactured product, the computer system comprising:

• a processor capable of executing instructions;
• and
• a memory having instructions when executed on the processor that:
• identify a sequence of assembly operations for combining materials into a component of the manufactured product and create a corresponding sequence of assembly instructions for an assembler to follow;
• specify a predetermined pocket in a matrix tray for holding a material to be used when an assembler performs the sequence of assembly instructions, wherein the matrix tray may further include a combination of one or more interchangeable shim inserts with each interchangeable shim insert having one or more pockets arranged in rows and columns for holding different size materials and wherein the material in the predetermined pocket corresponds directly to a quantity of materials listed in a Bill of Materials and is consumed by at least one assembly instruction performed from the sequence of assembly instructions;
• generate multimedia assembly data and related assembly instructions to be presented through a user interface of a computer device that guide the assembler to combine the material from the predetermined pocket of the matrix tray with the component in accordance with the sequence of assembly instructions;
• and
• specify a verification operation that records multimedia verification data associated with the material as the material is combined with the component of the manufactured product, wherein the multimedia verification data is compared with a predetermined multimedia verification data associated with a previously assembled component.

A computer program product for generating a computer-implemented sequence of assembly operations to assist an assembler when creating a manufactured product, tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

• identify, using instructions executable on the programmable processor, a sequence of assembly operations for combining materials into a component of the manufactured product and create a corresponding sequence of assembly instructions for an assembler to follow;
• specify, using instructions executable on the programmable processor, a predetermined pocket in a matrix tray for holding a material to be used when an assembler performs the sequence of assembly instructions, wherein the matrix tray may further include a combination of one or more interchangeable shim inserts with each interchangeable shim insert having one or more pockets arranged in rows and columns for holding different size materials and wherein the material in the predetermined pocket corresponds directly to a quantity of materials listed in a Bill of Materials and is consumed by at least one assembly instruction performed from the sequence of assembly instructions;
• generate, using instructions executable on the programmable processor, multimedia assembly data and related assembly instructions to be presented through a user interface of a computer device that guide the assembler to combine the material from the predetermined pocket of the matrix tray with the component in accordance with the sequence of assembly instructions;
• and
• specify, using instructions executable on the programmable processor, a verification operation that records multimedia verification data associated with the material as the material is combined with the component of the manufactured product, wherein the multimedia verification data may be compared with a predetermined multimedia verification data associated with a previously assembled component.