What is flexible automation?
Flexible automation (FA) is a type of manufacturing automation, which exhibits some form of “flexibility.” Most commonly this flexibility is the capability of making different products in a short time frame. This “process flexibility” allows the production of different part types with overlapping life cycles. Another type of flexibility that comes with flexible automation is the ability to produce a part type through many generations. Clearly, there are several other manifestations of flexibility. Flexible automation allows the production of a variety of part types in small or unit batch sizes. Although FA consists of various combinations of technology, flexible automation most typically takes the form of machining systems, that is, manufacturing systems where material is removed from a workpiece. The flexibility comes from the programmability of the computers controlling the machines. Flexible automation is also observed in assembly systems. The most prominent form of flexible assembl
