1

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

Ingenieria Industrial y de Sistemas

Sistemas integrados de manufactura

Profesor Fernando Suarez Warden

Chapter 19 Summary

Nombre: Humberto Davila Gonzalez

Matricula A01570253
 2

What is a flexible manufacturing system?

FMS: Highly automated GT machine cell which contains multiple processing stations such
as CNC machinery that are usually connected by an automatized storage system and is
manipulated in a controlled way by other computing systems.

It is considered a flexible process because of its capacity of processing a large variety of

part styles in a simultaneous way. This makes it so that management of quantity and
qualities of production becomes an easier task in relation to its

changing demand.

FMS can also be recognized as flexible automated manufacturing system.

An automated manufacturing system can be considered flexible when it counts with the
following qualities:

1. Part-variety test (priority)

2. Schedule-change test (priority)
3. Error-recovery test (priority)
4. New-part test

Another way of classifying flexible manufacturing systems is by their number of machines:

1. Single-machine cell (one CNC)

2. Flexible manufacturing cell (FMC)
3. Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)

And, by level of flexibility:

1. Dedicated FMS
2. Random-order FMS

Basic components of FMS are:

1. Workstations
 Load/Unload stations
 Machining stations
 Assembly
 Other stations and equipment ones
 3

2. Material handling and storage system

 Random independent movement of work parts between stations
 Handling work part configurations
 Temporary storage
 Convenient access for loading and unloading parts
 Compatibility with computer controlling systems

3. Computer control system

 Workstation control
 Distribution of control
 Production control
 Traffic control
 Shuttle control
 Tool control
 Performance monitoring and reporting
 Diagnostics

4. Loading of raw work parts into system

5. Unloading finished parts from system
6. Changing and setting of tools
7. Equipment maintenance
8. NC part programming
9. Operating and managing computer systems

FMS Applications

There are multiple areas in which FMS can be applied regarding machinery and
operational tasks. Most of these applications have to do with milling and drilling
procedures of nonrotational parts with help of CNC machining centers. FMS applications
are also used for the rotation of parts.

Other less common applications are the ones of sheet metal stamping and assembly.

FMS Planning and Implementation Issues

Initial planning phase includes:

 4

 Part family considerations

 Processing requirements
 Physical characteristics of the work parts
 Production volume

When speaking about designing of the system, these factors are the ones to considered
for the FMS:

 Types of workstations
 Variations in process routings and FMS layout
 Material handling system
 Work-in-process and storage capacity
 Tooling types and # per station
 Pallet fixtures

Operations Management Issues

Once the previous steps are verified and well controlled, resources become the next step
to achieve the main operational objectives, which have to do with profit, quality, and
satisfaction from clients.

The following problems are the ones that must be addressed:

 Scheduling and dispatching

 Machine loading
 Part routing
 Part grouping
 Tool management
 Pallet and fixture allocation

FMS Benefits

Successful FMS applications will result in overall benefits such as:

 Increased usage of machines

 Fewer machines required
 Reduction in factory floor space
 Greater responsiveness to change
 5

 Reduced inventory requirements

 Lower manufacturing lead times
 Reduced direct labor tasks
 Higher productivity

Example 19.4
6
 7

Bibliography

Groover, M. P. (2019). Automation, production systems, and computer-integrated

manufacturing. Pearson.