Question

1. What do you understand by the term ‘Flexible Manufacturing systems’ explain the different functionalities of this system?
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please write at least 500 words.

Answer 1

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a production method designed to adapt easily to changes in the type and quantity of the product being produced. Machines and computerized systems can be configured to produce a variety of parts and to handle varying production levels. A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) can increase productivity and thus reduce production costs for a business. Flexible production can also be a key component of a make-to - order strategy which enables customers to customize the products they want.

Improvement of the operation control - Computer systems play a very important role in the knowledge processing and automation along the shop floor. Software technology for managing knowledge management and as part of process control is called computer integrated manufacturing. A significant benefit is that the use of digital technology eliminates the need for human contact and provides an infrastructure that responds rapidly to production plan anomalies, as treated on the shop floor.

Reducing direct jobsGenerally this is achieved by automating existing operations. Automation levels are Fixed Automation, Versatile Automation, and Programmable Automation.
Improves responsiveness over the short term

A versatile development system with the aim of enhancing the plant's short-run responsiveness is also introduced. The short-run responsiveness may result from processing changes, material delivery or other related engineering issues.

In a flexible manufacturing system, as already stated, there are 2 essential features: automation and the use of computer technology. Its flexibility is one of the inherent properties of a flexible fabrication environment. In a mixed model, where different products are produced on the same line, the flexibility of a manufacturing system is a particularly important issue, without any change between one product and another.

This does not mean that manual labor is not employed in such workstations in a modern versatile production environment, where possible the workstations are numerically managed by computers.
Machining stations are very common in flexible production systems, where computer numerically operated machining centers are the most common type of machining stations. Generally speaking, these centers will include automatic tool change and tool storage equipped with automatic pallet changers connected to the plant's material handling system.

A load / unload station is the portion of the workstation that links the material handling device physically to the workstation. Work parts enter through this station, and leave this loading / unloading station at the workstation. Depending on the parts being handled, the successful loading and unloading process may either be automated or performed manually.
The integration of computer system is the key to this flexibility. As implemented in a flexible manufacturing system, the computer system will generally consist of a centralized computer with smaller distributed computers that monitor and control the individual machines.