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Why is fixed automation best suited to products made in very large quantities?
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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.
Fixed automation, often called "hard automation," is best suited for products manufactured in very large quantities due to its specific design and economic characteristics.
In this type of automation, the sequence of processing operations is permanently integrated into the equipment configuration through hardware such as cams, gears, and specialized wiring. Because these systems are physically configured for a single, specific product, they are not easily changed over to accommodate different product styles.12
This approach is ideal for high-volume production for the following reasons:
- High Production Rates: Fixed automation is engineered for maximum efficiency and speed, allowing for rapid output that is generally higher than that of programmable or flexible systems.1
- High Initial Investment: These systems require significant capital expenditure to design, fabricate, and install. To justify these high costs, the equipment must be utilized for large production volumes over an extended period.13
- Specialization: By focusing on a single product design, the equipment achieves superior consistency and control over the manufacturing process, which is most cost-effective when applied to mass-produced items.13