10-02-2012, 04:01 PM
Flexible Manufacturing Systems
[attachment=17457]
Where to Apply FMS Technology
The plant presently either:
Produces parts in batches or
Uses manned GT cells and management wants to
automate the cells
It must be possible to group a portion of the parts
made in the plant into part families
The part similarities allow them to be processed
on the FMS workstations
Parts and products are in the mid-volume, mid-variety
production range
Flexible Manufacturing System - Defined
“A highly automated GT machine cell, consisting of a
group of processing stations (usually CNC machine tools),
interconnected by an automated material handling and
storage system, and controlled by an integrated computer
system”
The FMS relies on the principles of GT
No manufacturing system can produce an unlimited
range of products
An FMS is capable of producing a single part family or
a limited range of part families
Flexibility Tests in an Automated Manufacturing System
To qualify as being flexible, a manufacturing system
should satisfy the following criteria (“yes” answer for
each question):
1. Can it process different part styles in a non-batch
mode?
2. Can it accept changes in production schedule?
3. Can it respond gracefully to equipment malfunctions
and breakdowns?
4. Can it accommodate introduction of new part
designs?
[attachment=17457]
Where to Apply FMS Technology
The plant presently either:
Produces parts in batches or
Uses manned GT cells and management wants to
automate the cells
It must be possible to group a portion of the parts
made in the plant into part families
The part similarities allow them to be processed
on the FMS workstations
Parts and products are in the mid-volume, mid-variety
production range
Flexible Manufacturing System - Defined
“A highly automated GT machine cell, consisting of a
group of processing stations (usually CNC machine tools),
interconnected by an automated material handling and
storage system, and controlled by an integrated computer
system”
The FMS relies on the principles of GT
No manufacturing system can produce an unlimited
range of products
An FMS is capable of producing a single part family or
a limited range of part families
Flexibility Tests in an Automated Manufacturing System
To qualify as being flexible, a manufacturing system
should satisfy the following criteria (“yes” answer for
each question):
1. Can it process different part styles in a non-batch
mode?
2. Can it accept changes in production schedule?
3. Can it respond gracefully to equipment malfunctions
and breakdowns?
4. Can it accommodate introduction of new part
designs?
