Flexible Manufacturing System Handbook Volume 1 Executive Summary PDF Download

Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs) represent a relatively new strategy to increase productivity. The technology is especially attractive for manufacturers who produce in the middle ranges of production volumes, neither mass production nor one of a kind . Today's unpredictable market environment demands low-cost solutions that provide quick product start-up, adaptability and responsiveness to changes in demand, and the capacity to easily resurrect out- of-production designs. In many instances, FMSs provide a direct hardware/ software solution to this threefold management challenge. The adoption of FMS technology requires that one address many questions beforehand. This handbook provides a methodical approach to answering these questions. But it is not a cookbook ; it cannot be. Each application of FMS technology is unique, therefore, the guidelines presented are fairly general.