Manufacturing Theories: Flexible Manufacturing System

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a manufacturing system in which there is some amount of flexibility which allows the system to react in the case of changes, whether predicted or unpredicted. This flexibility is generally considered to fall into two categories, within which are numerous other subcategories.

The first category, machine flexibility, covers the system's ability to be changed to produce new product types, and ability to change the order of operations executed on a part. The second category of flexibility within an FMS is called routing flexibility, which consists of the ability to use multiple machines to perform the same operation on a part, as well as the system's ability to absorb large–scale changes, such as in volume, capacity, or capability.

The whole FMS is commonly controlled by a central computer. The main advantages of a FMS is its high flexibility in managing manufacturing resources like time and effort in order to manufacture a new product.

The best application of a FMS is found in production of small sets of products that are likely but not equal that those from a mass production, otherwise production cost of small sets of products will cost a lot in relation with mass production cost.
Advantages

• Productivity increment due to automation
• Preparation time for new products is shorter due to flexibility (in case the FMS will be able to be adapted to)
• Saving of labor cost, due to automation less human workers are needed
• Improved production quality, due to automation