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How does flexible automation reduce the time needed to change from one product to another?
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At the top of the machine is a stack of punched cards that would be fed into the loom to control the weaving pattern. This method of automatically issuing machine instructions was employed by computers well into the 20th century.
Flexible automation reduces the time required to switch between products by eliminating the need for the lengthy, nonproductive changeover periods associated with programmable automation.1
In programmable systems, equipment must be manually reprogrammed and physically adjusted for each new batch, resulting in significant downtime. In contrast, flexible automationāsuch as a flexible manufacturing systemāoptimizes this process through two key methods:1
- Off-line Programming: Reprogramming is performed at a computer terminal while the system continues to operate, meaning the production equipment does not need to be taken off-line to receive new instructions.1
- Automated Changeover: The system is designed to handle a limited variety of products, allowing the equipment to adjust for different styles automatically and almost instantaneously.1
Because these adjustments occur without interrupting production, manufacturers can produce a mixture of different products sequentially rather than grouping them into batches, thereby maximizing efficiency and minimizing lost production time.21