Flexible Manufacturing Systems and Today Factories

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a manufacturing system in which there is some amount of flexibility to react in the case of changes, whether predicted or unpredicted. This flexibility can be divided into two categories: ١. Machine flexibility, covers the system's ability to be changed to produce new product types, and ability to change the order of operations executed on a part, and ٢. Routing flexibility, this consists of the ability to use multiple machines to perform the same operation on a part, as well as the system's ability to absorb large-scale changes, such as in volume, capacity, or capability. Most FMS systems consist of three main systems. ١. The work machines which are often usingcomputerized machines, ٢. Material handling system to optimize parts flow, and ٣. The central control computer which controls material movements and machine flow. and other stand-alone systems such as inspection machines as shown in Figure ١.