A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a manufacturing process that can easily adjust to changes in

the type and quantity of the product being produced. Machines and computerized systems can be set up to
make a wide range of parts and manage varying output levels. A flexible manufacturing system (FMS)
can increase productivity and lower production costs for a business. Flexible production may also be an
important part of a make-to-order strategy, which enables consumers to customize their own goods. Such
adaptability can come at a higher initial cost. When compared to more conventional systems, purchasing
and installing the advanced equipment that allows for such customization can be expensive (HAYES,
2021).
A modular manufacturing system may consist of a network of interconnected processing workstations
with computer terminals that handle the entire product production process, from loading and unloading to
machining and assembly, storage, quality checking, and data processing. The machine can be set up to
run a batch of one set of products in a specific quantity before switching to another set of products in a
different quantity. A flexible manufacturing process will also provide a make-to-order production process
that enables consumers to customize their goods.
A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is built from the ground up to be adaptable to changes in the type
and quantity of products manufactured, the manufacturing process is fully automated, lowering overall
labor costs and an FMS system, on the other hand, is more costly to build and install, and it needs
professional technicians to maintain.

Flexible Manufacturing System

The versatile manufacturing system (FMS) is made up of many components, including a power station, an
evacuation station, a milling machine, milling machine control equipment, a lathe machine, lathe machine
control equipment, and a robot. In a flexible manufacturing system, machines and robots are connected
through a distributed computer system, which is controlled by a master computer. Machines and robots
that are controlled by computers run the software. The robot is used to load and unload the system's
components. FMS's raw material and finished product storage area or automated storage and retrieval
system. In FMS, product/parts are usually transported from one station to another using a conveyor or an
AGV. Every versatile production system must have these characteristics (Sanjib Kumar SAREN, 2016).
Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) makes use of programmable automation for machining and
material handling to support these capabilities. Furthermore, proper device operation, such as efficient
product change management and demand situation adaptation, must be ensured. It leads to optimum
results, such as increased equipment usage, decreased setup time and work-in-process (WIP), and
significantly reduced throughput and lead times. As a result, the evaluation of FMS and the factors that
influence its efficiency should be specified and analysed in order to achieve the best possible throughput
time and equipment utilisation (Kashif Mahmood, 2017). The most common application of FMS
technology is in the machining process. It can also be used in metal press work, welding, and assembly,
and is most commonly used in mid-volume and mid-variety production.
A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is a manufacturing system with a certain degree of flexibility
that allows it to respond to changes, whether anticipated or unanticipated. The speed at which a system
reacts to and accommodates change is referred to as flexibility. To be considered versatile, a product's
versatility must be present during its entire life cycle, from design to manufacturing.
A factory management system (FMS) is a set of automated processing machines linked together by
conveyors and material handling systems. In an FMS, the manufacturing process necessitates a mixture of
workstations and technical route options, which are provided by the material handling system and
inspected by an automated inspection unit (Miguel Afonso Sellitto, 2019).
An integrated system of Computerized Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tools and an automated
Material Handling System (MHS) operating under the control of a computer are used in a modular
manufacturing system (s). Many supporting workstations can be attached to FMS, including load/unload
stations, washing stations, storage, deburring stations, and tool and fixture setting stations. As a result,
FMS is extremely complex and costly, necessitating extensive preparation and expenditure. A highly
automated group technology machine cell consisting of a group of processing work stations
interconnected by an automated material handling and storage system and operated by a distributed
computer system can be described as a flexible manufacturing system. Flexibility is an attribute that
allows a mixed mode manufacturing system to cope with a certain amount of variation in component or
product cycle without interrupting output due to model changes. The FMS is called versatile since it can
process a number of different part types and quantities of product at the same time at the workstation
(Arvind Kaushal, 2016).
There are different type of flexibility which are defined below:
Machine Flexibility: It refers to a machine's ability to adapt to a broad variety of production operations
and component types within a system. The machine's versatility will increase as the variety of operations
and component types expands.
Production Flexibility: It refers to the number of different component types that can be generated using
the systems. The process envelope determines the variety of component types that can be manufactured
by a manufacturing system at a reasonable cost and time.
Mix Flexibility: It is known as the ability to adjust the product mix while keeping the overall output
quantity constant, i.e., producing the same parts in different proportions. Method versatility is another
name for it.
Due to the use of common capital, mix stability protects against market volatility by accommodating
adjustments in product mix.
Product Flexibility: It refers to the ability to switch to a new generation of goods in a cost-effective and
timely manner in response to evolving consumer demands. The time spent designing, preparing, tooling,
and fixturing new goods introduced into the manufacturing line-up is included in the transition over time.
Routing Flexibility: It can be described as the ability to produce parts on a different workstation in the
event of equipment failure. At any given station, there can be tool failures and other interruptions. In the
presence of a bottleneck, it aids in increasing throughput. Product mix, engineering improvements, and
new product introductions are examples of external changes.
Volume Flexibility: It is the system's ability to adjust production volumes of various goods to meet
changing demand while remaining profitable. It is also known as power versatility.
Expansion Flexibility: It refers to how easily a system can be extended to increase overall output
volume.
There are some basic components of FMS:
Workstations: These workstations are usually computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools that
perform machining operations on families of parts in today's applications. Other types of production
equipment, such as inspection stations, assembly works, and sheet metal presses, are being designed into
flexible manufacturing systems.
Automated Material Handling and Storage system: Job parts and subassembly parts are transported
between processing stations using various automated material handling systems, which may include
storage.
Inspection equipment: It includes coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) used for offline inspection
and programmed to measure dimensions, concentricity, perpendicularity, and flatness of surfaces. The
distinguishing feature of this equipment is that it is well integrated with the machining centers.

Application characteristics of FMS

The FMS is an efficient and effective tool in terms of their merits and applications in the current business
scenario and competitive environment among various manufacturing enterprises in order to achieve
higher productivity and high quality product at low cost as per market demand. The FMS also puts an
obstacle in the way of futuristic views of innovation for newer manufacturing technology.

References
Arvind Kaushal, A. V. (2016). Flexible Manufacturing System A Modern Approach To Manufacturing
Technology. International Refereed Journal of Engineering and Science, 16-23.
HAYES, A. (2021, Feburary 13). Flexible Manufacturing System. Retrieved from Investopedia:
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/flexible-manufacturing-system.asp#:~:text=A%20flexible
%20manufacturing%20system%20(FMS,handle%20changing%20levels%20of%20production.
Kashif Mahmood, T. K. (2017). Performance Analysis of a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS). The
50th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems, (pp. 424-429). Tallinn.
Miguel Afonso Sellitto, V. G. (2019). Implementation of a Flexible Manufacturing System in a
production cell of the automotive industry. ISSN 1980-5411.
Sanjib Kumar SAREN, V. T. (2016). REVIEW OF FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM BASED
ON MODELING AND SIMULATION. ANNALS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA.