Flexible Manufacturing 
     Flexible Manufacturing 
     Systems (FMS)
     Systems (FMS)
     • An FMS is a “reprogrammable” manufacturing system 
      An FMS is a “reprogrammable” manufacturing system 
      capable of producing a variety of products automatically. 
      capable of producing a variety of products automatically. 
       Conventional manufacturing systems have been marked 
       Conventional manufacturing systems have been marked 
      by one of two distinct features:
      by one of two distinct features:
       – The capability of producing a variety of different 
        The capability of producing a variety of different 
        product types, but at a high cost (e.g., job shops).
        product types, but at a high cost (e.g., job shops).
       – The capability of producing large volumes of a 
        The capability of producing large volumes of a 
        product at a lower cost, but very inflexible in terms of 
        product at a lower cost, but very inflexible in terms of 
        the product types which can be produced (e.g., 
        the product types which can be produced (e.g., 
        transfer lines).
        transfer lines).
     • An FMS is designed to provide both of these features.
      An FMS is designed to provide both of these features.
     FMS Components
     FMS Components
    • Numerical Control (NC) machine tools
     Numerical Control (NC) machine tools
    • Automated material handling system 
     Automated material handling system 
     (AMHS)
     (AMHS)
      – Automated guided vehicles (AGV)
       Automated guided vehicles (AGV)
      – Conveyors
       Conveyors
      – Automated storage and retrieval systems 
       Automated storage and retrieval systems 
       (AS/RS)
       (AS/RS)
    • Industrial Robots
     Industrial Robots
    • Control Software
     Control Software
                Flexible Manufacturing System
                Flexible Manufacturing System
                                        Computer
                                          control
                                           room
                  Tools
                                                  Conveyor
                           Machine                                      Machine
                                      Pallet
                                        Load                     Unload
                              Parts                        Terminal      Finished
                                                                          goods
     Classification of FMS-
     Classification of FMS-
     related Problems
     related Problems
     • Strategic analysis and economic justification, which 
      Strategic analysis and economic justification, which 
      provides long-range, strategic business plans.
      provides long-range, strategic business plans.
     • Facility design, in which strategic business plans are 
      Facility design, in which strategic business plans are 
      integrated into a specific facility design to accomplish 
      integrated into a specific facility design to accomplish 
      long-term managerial objectives.
      long-term managerial objectives.
     • Intermediate-range planning, which encompasses 
      Intermediate-range planning, which encompasses 
      decisions related to master production scheduling and 
      decisions related to master production scheduling and 
      deals with a planning horizon from several days to 
      deals with a planning horizon from several days to 
      several months in duration.
      several months in duration.
     • Dynamic operations planning, which is concerned with 
      Dynamic operations planning, which is concerned with 
      the dynamic, minute-to-minute operations of FMS.
      the dynamic, minute-to-minute operations of FMS.
      FMS Problems
      FMS Problems
      • Part type selection (Askin) - selecting parts that will be 
       Part type selection (Askin) - selecting parts that will be 
       produced in the FMS over some relatively long planning horizon.
       produced in the FMS over some relatively long planning horizon.
      • Part selection (Stecke) - from the set of parts that have current 
       Part selection (Stecke) - from the set of parts that have current 
       production requirements and have been selected for processing 
       production requirements and have been selected for processing 
       in the FMS, select a subset for immediate and simultaneous 
       in the FMS, select a subset for immediate and simultaneous 
       processing.
       processing.
      • Machine grouping (Stecke) - partition machines into groups 
       Machine grouping (Stecke) - partition machines into groups 
       where each machine in a group can perform the same set of 
       where each machine in a group can perform the same set of 
       operations.
       operations.
      • Loading (Stecke) - allocate the operations and required tools of 
       Loading (Stecke) - allocate the operations and required tools of 
       the selected part types among the machine groups.
       the selected part types among the machine groups.
      • Control - provide instructions for, and monitor the equipment in 
       Control - provide instructions for, and monitor the equipment in 
       the FMS so that the production goals identified by the above 
       the FMS so that the production goals identified by the above 
       problems are met.
       problems are met.