Flexible manufacturing system is a
manufacturing system where there is some amount of flexibility. This allows the
system to react in case of changes whether they are predicted or unpredicted. It
is an automated system that allows for changes in either the volume of
production or the parts being manufactured. This enables any change in the last
minute as well as flexibility for planned changes to parts type, quantity or
order of processes.
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| Source: slideshare.net |
Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)
consists of group of processing work stations interconnected by means of
automated material handling and storage system and controlled by integrated
computer control system. The system is flexible since it is capable of
processing a variety of different part styles simultaneously at the workstation
and quantities of production can be adjusted in response to changing demand
patterns.
Flexibility generally falls into two
categories and both of them contain numerous subcategories. First category is
the machine flexibility which covers the system’s ability to change the order
of operations executed on a part. Second category is the routing flexibility
which consists of the ability to use multiple machines to perform the same
operation on a part and also on the system’s ability to absorb large-scale
changes like in volume, capacity or capability.
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| Source: slideshare.net |
There are three main systems of FMS. The
work machines which are often automated CNC machines are connected by a
material handling system to optimize parts flow and the central control
computer which controls material movements and machine flow.
FMS is highly flexible in managing
manufacturing resources like time and effort in order to manufacture a new
product. Application of an FMS is found in the production of small sets of
products like those from a mass production.
Mentioned below are the various
advantages of flexible manufacturing system:-
1. Many varieties of same products –
Flexible Manufacturing System can produce a large variety of the same type
(homogeneous) of products.
2. Investment is Profitable – Lot of
money is invested by company in machines. Optimum use of these machines is done
by FMS. FMS is bit costly but it is a profitable investment by the company.
3. Limited inventory is needed – In
comparison to other production systems, FMS needs limited inventories.
4. Flexible system – Flexible
manufacturing system is a very flexible system since it can produce a large
number of similar products. The quality and design of production can also be changed
easily.
5. Cost of labour is low – Work in the flexible
manufacturing system is dome by automated machines and robots. Hardly there is
any need of a manual work or intervention of human being.
6. Speedy production – Very be quickly
the products can produced since robots load, unload and transfer the materials
from one machine to another. Thus there is no room for inefficiencies, time
waste and material waste.
7. Works with CAD/CAM – FMS enables
synergy with these technologies.
The demand of customer in regard to a
specified product is changing very rapidly in the present market scenario and
hence it is important for a manufacturing unit to accommodate these changes as
quickly as possible to be able to complete in the market. This induces a
conflict for a manufacturing system as the variety is increased the
productivity decreases. Hence there is a good combination between variety and
productivity in the flexible manufacturing system. The main focus in the system
is on flexibility rather than the system efficiencies.
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| Source: slideshare.net |
A competitive FMS is expected to be
flexible enough to respond to small batches of customer demand and due to the
fact that the construction of any new production line is a large investment so
the current production line is reconfigured to keep up with the increased
frequency of new product design.
Flexible manufacturing system is a
high level of production automation hence people need to manage the system,
load and unload parts, change tools and maintain and repair the equipment.
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