Patent ID: 7003416

Claim:
A method for monitoring the performance of test apparatus for testing components, the method comprising: reading the time at commencement of testing of each component by the test apparatus, reading the time at completion of testing of each component, computing the duration of intervening time periods between the time at completion of testing of each component and the time at commencement of testing of the next component, comparing the duration of each computed intervening time period with a first reference delay period, and if the duration of the intervening time period exceeds the first reference delay period, classifying the intervening time period as a first category delay, comparing the duration of each intervening time period which does not exceed the first reference delay period with a second reference delay period, the second reference delay period being less than the first reference delay period, and if the duration of the intervening time period is not less than the second reference delay period, classifying the intervening time period as a second category delay, storing the durations of each first and second category delay and the time at termination of each first and second category delay as being the time at commencement of testing of the next component to be tested after termination of the respective first and second category delays, the duration, termination time and category of each first and second category delay being cross-referenced.