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flexible manufacturing system
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flexible manufacturing system

technology
Also known as: FMS

Learn about this topic in these articles:

major reference

  • Jacquard loom
    In automation: Flexible manufacturing systems

    A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a form of flexible automation in which several machine tools are linked together by a material-handling system, and all aspects of the system are controlled by a central computer. An FMS is distinguished from an automated…

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Deere & Company

  • cotton row picker and harvester
    In Deere & Company

    …major proponent of the “flexible-manufacturing” system of production. Under this system, Deere in 1981 built a factory in Iowa costing over \$1.5 billion that made extensive use of computers and robots and thus enabled the company to run numerous small assembly lines simultaneously for different products and turn a…

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machine tools

  • drill press
    In machine tool: Flexible manufacturing system (FMS)

    A group of manufacturing cells linked by an automatic material handling system and a central computer is called a flexible manufacturing system. The computerized coordination of FMS enables components to be produced at very low costs, even when only small quantities are…

    Read More
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computer numerical control
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computer numerical control

technology
Also known as: NC
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Article History

computer numerical control (CNC), in manufacturing, the control of a device, particularly machine tools, by direct input of data from a computer program. It is a principal element of computer-integrated manufacturing. CNC is also essential to the operation of industrial robots. CNC systems often receive their instructions from computer-aided design (CAD) programs. Two basic types of CNC systems are point-to-point, in which a device is programmed to perform a series of motions with fixed starting and stopping points, and continuous-path, in which a point-to-point programmed device has sufficient memory to be “aware” of its former actions and their results and to act in accordance with this information.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
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