Engineering Flexible Manufacturing System Case Study

Engineering Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)
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Engineering Flexible Manufacturing System
A. The effectiveness of the FlexSim simulation package in designing and planning the flexible manufacturing system and evaluating its performance
FlexSim is one of the most advanced simulation tools used currently in the manufacturing sector (Kumar et al., 2015). The simulation engine is located beneath a number of intuitive controls including drop-down lists, drag and drop controls that render it user-friendly. FlexSim can be used to simulate 3D visual models drawn to scale in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). While evaluating the performance of such systems, FlexSim simulation package enhances
As the industrial sector continues to evolve, flexibility in manufacturing ecosystems cannot be overlooked. In fact, the cost of equipment and labor continues to increase annually. FlexSim effectively optimizes the costs associated with investments, equipment and time. Indeed, FlexSim simulation is a cheap, risk-free mechanism of ensuring that the set production standards and goals are met. Other than placing the facility to test, simulation of FSMs ensures that the principles of Six Sigma and lean manufacturing are tested and implemented (FlexSim Simulation Software, 2017). With the aid of the simulation software, flexible variables such as output and production time can be re-simulated in order to harness the results. When compared to spreadsheet-based forecasts, this method is relatively
It is widely recognized that change is unrelentingly fast. Thus, employees must be empowered and versatile to make timely solutions. Another strategy that can be used to increase the company’s agility is by shifting from efficiency to responsiveness (Ehrlichman, 2014). A responsive company is adaptive to dynamics in the market. Essentially, organizations need to focus on flexibility rather than efficiency in order to maintain a competitive edge.

References
Ehrlichman, M. (2014, November 19). 6 Ways to Increase Your Company’s Agility. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.inc.com/matt-ehrlichman/6-fundamental-shifts-that-make-successful-organizations-responsive.html
FlexSim Simulation Software. (2017). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.flexsim.com/factory-simulation/
Kumar, S.B., Mahesh, D.V., and Satish, B.K. (2015). Modeling and Analysis of Flexible Manufacturing System with FlexSim. International Journal of Computational Engineering Research (IJCER, 05 (15): 1-6.
Al-Kahtani, M., and Safitra, M. (2014). Cost-Benefit Analysis of Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Bali, Indonesia, p.2