Explain why a flexible manufacturing system will produce productivity gains for a business deploying a range of processing machines, loading and unloading systems and coordinated work schedules.
Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)
A Flexible Manufacturing System is one that can be changed or adapted rapidly to manufacture different products or components at different volumes of production. Flexible manufacturing systems are usually seen at their most efficient when manufacturing components rather than finished products.
Range of Processing Machines
Typical manufacturing system may need to halt if a key design needs to be modified but an FMS will adapt and keep production going during modification. A good example is a company that specialises in manufacturing injection moulded components. The component design may change very quickly but as long as the mould is updated / modified the injection moulding machine can still operate. Computers monitor the supply of materials, monitor the operating temperatures and quality control. Machines of this nature are adaptable and are ideal for FMS.
Loading and Unloading Systems
Automatic loading and unloading with an FMS or even with stand-alone machine tools requires a correspondingly effective material flow in the loading area. A well-engineered FMS with material functions is well-suited for this purpose. In a system of this kind, materials can be stored so that the control system automatically delivers them to the loading area on time. Finished work pieces can be transferred to other material pallets. Even if changeover of the fixtures is necessary at some point, the changeable parts for the fixtures can be stored in the FMS.
Coordinated work schedules
FMS can efficiently change the coordinated work schedules when implanted, FMS can have significant impact on a manufacturer’s labour and organisational structure. Securing