Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
9-30-1985
Degree Name
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Industrial and Management Engineering
First Advisor
John Mihalasky
Abstract
FMS is a new kind of manufacturing system which is flexible enough to handle a limited variety of parts. It usually consists of three main components: machine tools, a material handling system, and a computer control system. The material handling system is the key to integrating manufacturing cells into the FMS. The machine tools used in FMS are programmable and computer-controlled, having the ability to change their operation process rapidly to deal with product changeovers and part design changes. The digital computer used in FMS has the capability of handling various manufacturing processes which are not capable of being controlled by humans. The FMS allows workparts to be mixed randomly with higher production rates than stand-alone machines, so that the various outputs can satisfy the changing market demand. The FMS concept specifically addresses the area where part variety is too high for transfer lines and where production volume is both too low for transfer lines and other dedicated processes.
In 1981, Taiwan's government decided that industrial automation, in which FMS is included, was to be one of the nation's industrial policies. The first FMS in Taiwan was developed by Tair-Yea Corp. and Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories. It was displayed in the "1983 Mechanical Exhibition" held in Taipei. Japan has already developed FMS and in 1984 100 sets of FMS were being used. Japan will be a good example to be referred to. However, ninety-five percent of Taiwan's enterprises are small and medium types. Most of them did not know about new production technology; therefore, FMS development is not common in Taiwan's industry. Finally, several strategic suggestions have been made in this thesis about Taiwan's FMS development.
The objective of this thesis is to study the source and the trend of FMS development, and to explore the status of Taiwan's FMS development so as to make suggestions to Taiwan's industry for installing FMS. In order to know the status of Taiwan's FMS development, several surveys made by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C., were used.
Recommended Citation
Liu, Chi-Shuan, "The flexible manufacturing system and its development in Taiwan" (1985). Theses. 3451.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3451
