1. A method for optimizing configuration of a computer-controlled part pick-and-place machine for placing parts on a PCB, said machine comprising a support for the PCB, a plurality of gripping devices, a plurality of numbered feeders for holding parts for placing on the PCB, and means for activating the gripping devices to pick up selected parts from selected feeders and place them on selected positions on the PCB in accordance with one of a plurality of charges, each charge representing a specific set of parts which are picked and placed as a group and each group movement constituting one charge and a list of charges necessary to place on the parts on the PCB constituting a charge map capable of controlling operation of the machine, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating an initial population of chromosome strings each representing a set of parameters that control how a charge map is generated for controlling operation of the machine in order to place a given set of parts at given part locations on a given PCB, (b) providing a charge map generator, responsive to a given chromosome string, for generating the configuration and for computing a placement time for placing the given set of parts-on the given PCB, with the machine in the configuration, (c) using a genetic algorithm to generate from the chromosome strings new chromosome strings, (d) evaluating the new chromosome strings generated in step (c) by supplying same to the charge map generator, (e) iterating steps (c) and (d) substituting those new chromosome strings for the chromosome strings if the new chromosome strings result in a lesser placement time than the chromosome strings, until a specified number of chromosome strings have been generated and evaluated or the chromosome population has been brought to convergence, and (f) outputting a best chromosome string found through iteration as representing a desired machine configuration.