Flexible Manufacturing System

Introduction: FMS definition and classification of manufacturing systems, Automated production cycle, Need of flexibility, Concept of flexibility, Types of flexibilities and its measurement.

FMS Equipment: Why FMS, Factors responsible for the growth of FMS, FMS types and applications, Economic justification for FMS, Functional requirements for FMS equipments, FMS processing and QA equipment, e.g., turning and machining centers, Co-ordinate measuring machines, Cleaning and deburring machines, FMS system support equipment, Automated material handling and storage equipment, cutting tool and tool management, Work holding considerations, Fixture considerations in FMS environment.

Group Technology: GT concepts, Advantages of GT, Part family formation-coding and classification systems; Partmachine group analysis, Methods for cell formation, Use of different algorithms, mathematical programming and graph theoretic model approach for part grouping, Cellular vs FMS production. FMS related problem and Solution Methodology: · FMS design problems: Part assignment, Machine selection, Storage system selection, Selection of pallets and fixtures, Selection of computer hardware and software, designing for layout integration of machine storage, Material handling System and computer system, Communication networks.

· FMS planning problems: Strategic planning, Part type selection, Machine grouping, production ratio and resource allocation, Machine loading problems.

· Operational & Control problems: Part scheduling, Machines robots & AGVS, Process monitoring & control.

· FMS Implementation: Objectives, acceptance testing, Performance goals and expectation maintenance concerns.

Books:

1. Automation, Production System & Computer Integrated Manufacturing Groover Englewood

2. Design and Operation of SMS Rankey IFS

3. Flexible Manufacturing System Wernecks Spring-Verlag

4. FMS in Practice Bonctto Northox Ford