The present invention features a method wherein a component in a multi-head component placement machine is rejected during the placement cycle. A component is imaged and the image processed using an automated vision system. The image processing determines whether the component is placeable based upon a comparison of the component image to preprogrammed mechanical parameters for the component. A non-placeable component is rejected into a reject station, which is contiguous with the head. Because a component can be rejected during the placement cycle, there is no slowdown of the placement machine cycle rate.