Robotic automation has brought about the automated flexible manufacturing system. A group of computer guided machines in a given work area can be used to create parts or products by following instructions sent to them from controllers. Flexible manufacturing occurs when those automated machines are situated in a production setting so that they can be used in multiple arrangements to add to the multiplicity of a production environment. It is possible to have robotics situated on the production floor in such a way that they can be used for given manufacturing during certain jobs, then when the production job is different these same robotics can contribute to a different job.
The manufacturing layout for flexible manufacturing has characteristics that allow it to be re-configured to adjust the manufacturing process in order to manufacture different products on the same production lines. This re-configuration may be by design or it may be due to manufacturing changes that were not anticipated. Either way the flexible manufacturing layout is able to fulfill the needs of the manufacturer with changes in its configuration.
The installation of flexible automated manufacturing is a turning point in the life of a company. It is important to have the employees as involved as possible in the installation. During this time some training will occur, either formal or informal. Management needs to be sensitive about giving directions concerning the new implementation. It is important that employees have a good understanding of the installation plan and how the final result will impact their daily work. Management can schedule for production workers to work along side installation personnel. This will help the employees to get a better understanding of the equipment of the flexible automated manufacturing and what can be expected of it. Also it will help the employees to cultivate ownership of the new manufacturing equipment and the benefits it will afford the company.
The purpose of the acceptance testing of an automated manufacturing system is to determine if all the components of the system operate to expected specification levels. This is determined by running the equipment for an extended period of time in full manufacturing mode. Certain events must have taken place for a correct acceptance test to be run. The acceptance testing of a recently installed automated manufacturing system can happen successfully if the work station equipment in the system has been installed correctly. Each of the piece of equipment should have been successfully tested individually after installation and determined to be functioning to manufacturer specifications.
Flexible automation has gone through several steps to get to fully integrated, computer supported operations. The process of manufacturing has moved from the manual phase, where most of the operations in production were done by hand. It has now moved to the phase where dependence on computers is very important called flexible automation. Even though the dependence of manufacturing has moved from totally resting on humans for support to resting more on computers, the human operators continue to be very important for the continued successful operation of manufacturing devices. Human operators help to delivery the flexibility to manufacturing processes.
Flexible automation is the center part of the continuum between the production line that has multiple work cells that are coordinated to work quite well together and individual work cells that work independently. It occupies this spot because of the need to draw the best parts from both of the ends of the spectrum to create a type of manufacturing that can perform at an optimum. Flexible automation has medium performance in the areas that occupy both ends of the continuum, changeover time, unit volume, production rates, and flexibility. This type of manufacturing offers several excellent advantages to a company.
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