Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)

A manufacturing system which can react in case of changes, whether predicted or unpredicted. This flexibility falls into two categories. Routing Flexibility covers the system's ability to be changed to produce new product types, and ability to change the order of operations executed on a part. Machine Flexibility is the ability to use multiple machines to perform the same operation on a part, as well as the system's ability to absorb large-scale changes, such as in volume, capacity, or capability.