VI. Speaking.

Discussion points:

1. System approach to factory automation.

2. Top-down manufacturing strategy.

3. New requirements to automation.

4. Cooperation of suppliers and users.

5. The main goal of user’s business plan.

6. The factory automation provision.

7. The elements of factory automation.

8. The main reason for the high failure rate of FMS.

9. Untried and custom-tailored system elements.

UNIT 7

FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING CELLS

I. Reading.

Ex.1. Read the text and translate it.

MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED FACTORY

1. The future of manufacturing is going to be in flexible ma­nufacturing systems. Manufacturing must be looked at today as a total system, combining several processes, rather than just as parts making… (A). Fixed, or hard, automation is declining. Flexible systems not only enhance the ability to respond to rapidly changing demands, but also offer such benefits as higher inventory turns — something we didn't pay much attention to a few years ago when interest rates were low and obsolescence was less important than it is today… (B).

2. Flexible manufacturing systems are regarded by many experts as being the best way to meet the demands imposed by accelerated product cycles, short-lived products, and frequent — often unpredictable — changes in the market­place. And the influence of FMS concepts extends far beyond the factory floor… (C).

3. FMS is the precursor of the automated factory, or at least the minimally manned factory. And perhaps most signifi­cant, FMS is clearly the most obvious manifestation of com­puter-integrated manufacturing on the factory floor.

4. Flexible manufacturing includes both flexible manufac­turing systems and flexible manufacturing cells.

The cell has always been considered the basic building block of FMS. And although there is considerable activity in multiple-machine systems, the largest portion of the growth in interest in FMS today is in cells. This includes both cells that are never intended to be anything more than an operating group of several machines, perhaps with a material handling system, that will work together but remain an isolated entity, and cells that are made up of system-ready machines, speci­fically planned for and intended to be expanded on Integrated into a larger system… (D).

5. The cell is a stepping-stone to the larger system. It has all of the elements of a full FMS, including two or three machi­nes, material handling, pallet changing, host computer, and all of the management information communication capability… (E).

Realizing the benefits of FMS, whether at the cell level or the full system level, requires proper design of the system and proper organization of the supportive work of the factory.

II. Vocabulary.

Ex.1. Make up the collocations

1.factory	1. computer
2. product	2. block
3. proper	3. floor
4. host	4. design
5. building	5. cycle

Ex.2. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate word-combination from ex.1.

1. The cell has always been considered to be the … of FMS with all its elements.

2. Linking all data processing functions: management, finance, engineering and manufacturing, sharing information to incense quality and productivity, as well as shorten … creates CIM.

3. The server, also referred to as … manages the network, and may be a computer just like the others on the network.

4. … scheduling is an important task in managing a production system.

5. Simulation has been used for the … of industrial systems for many years.