Industrial Automation and Flexible Manufacturing Systems

1. Defining Automation

Automation is the technology used to perform processes or procedures without the aid of human intervention.

5 Reasons to Automate

• Increase productivity
• Reduce costs
• Mitigate effects of labor shortages
• Reduce or eliminate routine manual tasks
• Enhance security for employees

3. Phases of the Automation Strategy

• Phase 1: Manual Production: Cells using a station run by people operating independently. Used for reasons of cost and time tools.
• Phase 2: Automated Production: Cells from one station operate independently. As demand increases and automation becomes justified, stations are automated to reduce labor and increase production rates.
• Phase 3: Integrated Production: Automated multi-station systems operating in series with automated work unit transport.

6. What is FMS?

A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is a comprehensive system for machine tools linked by an automated material handling system, operated by conventional technology or at least one CNC machine.

7. Example of an FMS

A bottling plant.

8. Classification Based on Number of Machines

• Cell: Simple machine or flexible manufacturing cell (2-3 machines).
• System: Flexible manufacturing system (4 or more machines).

9. Components of an FMS

• Workstations
• Storage systems
• Material handling
• Computer control systems
• Human resources

10. Layout Settings of FMS

• Online distribution
• Circular distribution
• Ladder distribution

11. Applications of an FMS

• Presses: Used for high-speed metal forming.
• Rolling Systems: Used for continuous material processing.

12. Automated Manufacturing Systems

These systems are used for the mass production of parts requiring several operations. Each operation is performed on a workstation, and the stations consist of a transport system that connects each unit to form a chain of automated production.

13. Settings of an Automated Manufacturing System

• Online: Workstations arranged in a straight line.
• Online Divided into Segments: Consists of two or more sections of online configurations to facilitate transfer.
• Rotational: Workstations are arranged in a circular configuration.