[...]... Integrated Manufacturing Cell Control FMS Flexible Manufacturing System FMC Flexible Manufacturing Cell FAS Flexible Manufacturing Assembly DNC Direct Numerical Control DAS Data Acquisition System Production Data AC Area Control 1.16 HIERARCHY OF CIM The computer integrated manufacturing includes all of the engineering functions of CAD/CAM along with firm’s business functions that are related to manufacturing. .. personal computers and minicomputers are installed It is often dependent upon the size of the system and complexity, whether the manufacturing industries define these systems as 3 Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)—Large systems 4 Flexible manufacturing cells (FMC)—Small systems Level 3(b) is the one where the host computer is often known as a coordination or master host Level 4 configures the control... FMS as described above Currently, the trend in FMS is toward small versions of the traditional FMS, called flexible manufacturing cells (FMC) Today two or more CNC machines are considered as a flexible cell and two ore more cells are considered a flexible manufacturing system Thus, a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) consists of several machine tools along with part and tool handling devices such... “System 24”, a flexible machining system that could operate without human operators 24 hours a day under computer control From the beginning the emphasis was on automation rather than the “reorganization of workflow” Early flexible manufacturing systems were large and very complex, consisting of dozens of Computer Numerical Controlled machines (CNC) and sophisticated material handling systems FMS Introduction... “delight” its customers FMS is simply one way that manufacturers are able to achieve this agility Volume flexibility Mix flexibility Manufacturing flexibility Delivery flexibility Fig 1.1 Types of flexibilities 2 Flexible Manufacturing System 1.2 DEFINITION A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is an arrangement of machines interconnected by a transport system The transporter carries work to the machines... Product Variety Flexible Manufacturing systems Medium Transfer lines Low Low Medium High Production Volume Fig 1.2 Application characteristics of FMS Tool changer Tool changer Tool changer As/RS CNC 1 Out In Out In Raw material storage (floor space) CNC 2 Out In AGV 2 Raw material storage (roller conveyor) L/U L/U Temporary storage areas (33 pallet spaces) Load/unload stations Fig 1.3 Flexible manufacturing. .. to the job shop structures Actually, the need is for flexible processes to permit rapid low cost switching from one product line to another This is possible with flexible workers whose multiple skills would develop the ability to switch easily from one kind of task to another As main resources, flexible processes and flexible workers would create flexible plants as plants which can adapt to changes... AGVS 63 8.2.1 Unit Load Carries: Low Built Vechile 3 Types A and C 8.2.2 Side Loading and High Lifting Types 64 8.2.3 Tugger Systems 64 8.2.4 Automated Guided Transport Carts 64 8.3 ASRS Systems Available 68 8.4 Analysis of AGV Systems 68 8.6 Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) 71 8.6.1 Unit Load AS/RS 71 8.6.2 Mini Load AS/RS 71 8.6.3 Carousel AS/RS 72 8.7 Advanced Automated Storage and... a component Sophisticated manufacturing systems 1.12 AREA OF APPLICATION OF A FMS IN INDUSTRY The following chart in the Fig 1.5 shows the various applications in an industry Tertiary Industry Manufacturing Process Service Banking, retail, transport etc Chemicals, foods, etc Production Jobs Batch Small Technical services Planning Financial capacity production Series Large Flexible transfer line Transfer... Overview 125 13.2.2 GM Corporate Mantra 126 13.2.3 Common Engineering Benefits New Initiatives 127 12.2.4 Common Processes Accelerate Time-to-Market 128 13.2.5 Common Manufacturing Systems Lower Costs 128 13.2.6 Common Manufacturing Systems Improve Production Efficiency and Lower Costs 128 13.2.7 Common Controls Architecture Lies at the Foundation of GM NA.s Strategy 129 13.2.8 GM NA.s Common Control . Types 64 8.2.3 Tugger Systems 64 8.2.4 Automated Guided Transport Carts 64 8.3 ASRS Systems Available 68 8.4 Analysis of AGV Systems 68 8.6 Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) 71 8.6.1. 127 12.2.4 Common Processes Accelerate Time-to-Market 128 13.2.5 Common Manufacturing Systems Lower Costs 128 13.2.6 Common Manufacturing Systems Improve Production Efficiency and Lower Costs 128 13.2.7. of Flexible Manufacturing System has gained considerable importance in teaching curriculum of Mechanical, Industrial Engineering and Management and Automobile Engineering students. Formerly Flexible