What Is a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)?
A flexible manufacturing gadget (FMS) is a producing means that is designed to easily adapt to changes throughout the type and quantity of the product being manufactured. Machines and automatic ways may also be configured to manufacture quite a lot of parts and care for changing levels of producing.
Key Takeaways
- A flexible manufacturing gadget (FMS) is designed up front to be readily adapted to changes throughout the type and quantity of goods being produced.
- Production in an FMS is largely automatic, decreasing overall hard work costs.
- An FMS gadget is, however, more expensive to design and put in place than a difficult and speedy gadget, and it calls for pro technicians.
Working out a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)
A flexible manufacturing gadget (FMS) can give a boost to efficiency and reduce production costs, which might be a very powerful problems throughout the process of business construction. Flexible manufacturing moreover is typically a key part of a make-to-order methodology that allows customized products and assists in keeping inventories low. Such flexibility can come with higher up-front costs. Purchasing and setting up the specialized equipment that allows for such customization may be expensive compared with further typical ways.
The idea that that of flexible manufacturing was once as soon as advanced via Jerome H. Lemelson (1923–1997), an American business engineer and inventor who filed a lot of equivalent patents throughout the early 1950s. His distinctive design was once as soon as a robot-based gadget that would possibly weld, rivet, put throughout, and take a look at manufactured pieces.
Lemelson did not assemble his gadget; surely, when he posited it, the facility to build it was once as soon as nevertheless out of reach. One day, however, it was once possible to build one, and the FMS debuted on production facility floor in the us and Europe throughout the overdue 1960s and started to proliferate throughout the 1970s.
An FMS would possibly include a configuration of interconnected workstations with pc terminals that process the end-to-end introduction of a product. Functions would possibly include loading and unloading, machining and assembly, storing, top of the range checking out, and data processing. The gadget may also be programmed to run a batch of one set of products in a decided on quantity and then robotically switch over to each different set of products in each different quantity.
Flexible manufacturing is typically a key part of a make-to-order methodology that allows customers to order customized products.
Professionals and Cons of an FMS
The principle get advantages is the enhancement of producing efficiency. Downtime is reduced because the production line does now not wish to be shut the entire means down to prepare for a novel product.
The disadvantages of an FMS include its higher up-front costs and the bigger time required to design the gadget specifications for quite a lot of long term needs. Specialized technicians needed to run, observe, and maintain the FMS moreover add expense. However, advocates of FMS maintain that the upward push in automation most often results in a internet aid in hard work costs.
How is a flexible regulate gadget (FMS) prepare?
An FMS may be prepare in a lot of ways. Finally, its main lure is its adaptability. One configuration would perhaps comprise interconnected pc workstations that process the end-to-end introduction of a product. This starts with loading/unloading functions and proceeds to machining and assembly, storing, top of the range checking out, and data processing. The FMS programming can robotically switch from one set of products in a certain amount to each different set in a novel amount.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of an FMS?
The principle advantage of an FMS is that it makes production further setting pleasant. Delays are reduced, as production doesn’t wish to be shut the entire means down to prepare for a novel product.
Drawbacks include higher up-front costs and the bigger time required to design the gadget specifications for quite a lot of long term needs. There is also an additional price for the specialized technicians who art work the FMS.
Then again, the gadget’s automation typically ends up in an overall aid in hard work costs.
Who invented the FMS?
Jerome H. Lemelson (1923–1997), an American business engineer and inventor, is credited with growing the concept that that of flexible manufacturing. His initial design featured a robot-based gadget that would possibly weld, rivet, put throughout, and take a look at manufactured pieces. Strategies in keeping with his design began showing up on production facility floor in the us and Europe throughout the overdue 1960s, becoming a lot more in taste throughout the 1970s.
