What Will Be Covered
            What Will Be Covered
       •Flexible Manufacturing Defined
         Flexible Manufacturing Defined
       •How “you” can use FMS
         How “you” can use FMS
       •Nuts and Bolts
         Nuts and Bolts
       •How FMS works
         How FMS works
       •A real world example
         A real world example
       •Summary
         Summary
                              
               What Is A Flexible 
               What Is A Flexible 
          Manufacturing System?
           Manufacturing System?
         Flexible Manufacturing System:
         Flexible Manufacturing System:
         - “A system that consists of numerous 
         - “A system that consists of numerous 
         programmable machine tools connected 
         programmable machine tools connected 
         by an automated material handling 
         by an automated material handling 
         system” (2)
                  (2)
         system” 
                               
                    History of FMS
                    History of FMS
        • FMS first proposed in England in 1960’s
          FMS first proposed in England in 1960’s
        • “System 24” operates 24 hours a day
          “System 24” operates 24 hours a day
        • Automation is main purpose in beginning
          Automation is main purpose in beginning
                                  
             How You Can Use FMS
             How You Can Use FMS
        • To reduce set up and queue times
          To reduce set up and queue times
        • Improve efficiency
          Improve efficiency
        • Reduce time for product completion
          Reduce time for product completion
        • Utilize human workers better
          Utilize human workers better
        • Improve product routing
          Improve product routing
        • Produce a variety of Items under one roof
          Produce a variety of Items under one roof
        • Improve product quality
          Improve product quality
        • Serve a variety of vendors simultaneously
          Serve a variety of vendors simultaneously
        • Produce more product more quickly
          Produce more product more quickly
                                  
             Nuts and Bolts of FMS
             Nuts and Bolts of FMS
                         FMS Layouts
                          FMS Layouts
        • Progressive Layout:
          Progressive Layout:
           – Best for producing a variety of parts
             Best for producing a variety of parts
        • Closed Loop Layout:
          Closed Loop Layout:
           – Parts can skip stations for flexibility
             Parts can skip stations for flexibility
           – Used for large part sizes
             Used for large part sizes
           – Best for long process times
             Best for long process times