Computer- integrated manufacturing: Flexible manufacturing systems.

Flexible manufacturing systems

Because modern CNC machines and robots are software­ driven, they can be switched from task to task in a very flexible way. Also, production plans can be equally flexible, because they are calculated by the computer data processing system. The combination of the two is flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), a term used to describe the ability of modern manufacturing operations to switch rapidly from one prod­uct specification to another.

FMS offers great benefits for many types of production:

• Batch production, which accounts for a large part of manufacturing activity, can be automated, with resulting cost and quality benefits.

• Large-scale production is no longer tied to huge produc­tion runs of identical products. A car manufacturing plant, for example, can make cars to order without incurring heavy set-up costs. This means that dealers or customers can specify the colours and accessories required, and the quantities, and these can be quickly assembled.

• FMS allows the factory to operate on a just-in-time (JIT) basis, i.e. parts and products can be made at the time that they are required, rather than being made for stock weeks or months ahead. This cuts down greatly on stockholding costs.

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