III. Grammar.

Ex.1. Translate the following sentences paying your attention to the types of subordinate clauses in complex sentences.

1. This includes both cells that are never intended to be anything more that 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 or integrated into a large system.

2. Flexible systems not only enhance the ability to respond to rapidly changing demand, 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 that it is today.

3. And although there is considerable activity in multiple – machine systems, the largest portion of the growth in interest in FMS today is in cells.

4. 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.

5. That we use countless machines today needs no proof.

IV. Comprehension.

Ex.1. Define the number of the passage from the text containing information about:

1. Elements of a cell.

2. FMS as the best way to meet demands of a market.

3. Types of cells.

4. The future of manufactory.

5. Flexible automation versus fixed automation.

6. Benefits of flexible systems.

7. The contents of flexible manufacturing.

8. Proper design of the system.

Ex.2. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Flexible manufacturing systems are regarded by many experts as being the worst way to meet the demands imposed by accelerated product cycles.

2. FMS is clearly the most oblivious manifestation of computer-integrated manufacturing on the factory floor.

3. Flexible manufacturing does not include manufacturing cells; it includes only flexible manufacturing systems.

4. The cell has all elements of a full FMS.

5. The future of manufacturing is in computer - integrated manufacturing systems.

Ex.3. Answer the questions.

1. How the influence of FMS concepts extend far beyond the factory floor?

2. What do you know about the cell in connection with FMS?

3. What are the benefits of FMS at different levels? What are these levels?

4. Are there any different kinds of cells?

5. Why is fixed automation declining?

Ex.4. Choose from the episodes 1-5 the one which fits each gap A-E in the text.

1. Terms such as “focused factories” are used to describe product – focused operations as compared with functional ones, which are minimized. These factories will eventually result in a merger manufacturing and distribution operations into product family operations that are singularly managed. With correct planning for available floor space, flexible manufacturing systems can be designed for low production volumes, and as demand increases new machines can be added easily to provide extra capacity flexibility required. The main thing is that flexibility is characterized by the system’s ability to adapt to change in the composition of the lots and the machining processes and sequences, which means that it is able to respond to changing market and consumer demands.

2. These are interlinked by an automated workpiece – flow system in a way that enables the simultaneous machining of different routes. The machine tool is hence capable of performing more than one operation automatically, on more than two workpieces. Automatic cleaning, inspecting and deburring devices, and/or devices for other functions may be integrated into a flexible manufacturing cell. Such blocks have in recent times experienced a rapid growth in both the number of manufactures and users. Their appearance and frequent application closed an important gap between the individual machine tool and the interlinked systems.

3. Hard automation refers to automated machines in which the equipment configuration allows fixed sequence of processing operations. These machines are programmed by their design to make only certain processing operations. They are not easily changed over from one product to another. This form of automation needs high initial investments and high production rates. This is lost production time, which is expensive. In flexible automation the changeover of the equipment can be done very quickly and automatically. The reprogramming of the equipment in flexible type is done at a computer terminal without using the production equipment itself. It allows a mixture of different products to be produced one right after another.

4. In most installations, incoming raw materials are fixture onto pallets at a load station set apart from the machine tools. They move via the material hand ling system to queues at production machines where they are processed. In properly designed systems, the holding queues are seldom empty, i.e. there is a workpiece waiting to be processed when a machine becomes idle. When pallet exchange times are short, the machine idle times become quite small. The number of machines in a system typically ranges from 2 to 20 or more. The conveyance system may consist of carousels, conveyors, carts, smart robots, or a combination of these. The important aspects of these systems are that the machine, conveyance, control elements combine to achieve increasing productivity and maximum machine utilization without scarifying flexibility.

Flexible automation offers improved productivity, and product affordability, yet it retains the benefits of improved quality that comes with hard automation. Not only does flexible automation offer increased process speeds, it also permits users to adapt rapidly to changes in product mix. Furthermore, flexible automation can compensate for a decline in number of skilled manufacturing professionals that are available for employment.

5. CIM is used to mean the entire manufacturing enterprise, not just the productive subsystem of a manufacturing operation. Current manufacturing enterprises are complex systems with a multitude of internal and external relationships. The integration of different strategies and functions in a manufacturing enterprise is critical to its success. The following functions are contained under the heading of manufacturing:

• Process design and engineering.

• Translation of product design infor­mation into manufacturing information.

• Production planning, scheduling, and control.

• Incoming material control.

• Material ordering and stocking.

• Product fabrication, assembly, and testing.

• Product repair.

• Quality control.

• Product and process productivity im­provement.

• Manufacturing information manage­ment.