an in - line programming system and method for programming and testing programmable integrated circuit devices and performing the assembly of printed circuit board assemblies . printed circuit boards enter and leave the ilp system on a conveyor system . pics are loaded into the ilp system , and the ilp system automatically programs and tests the pics and places them onto the pcbs as the pcbs arrive on the conveyor . the programming and testing operations are performed by the same piece of equipment that performs the pcba assembly operation .