FMS SOLUTIONS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

In reality, FMS is a way, or even a philosophy, of approaching certain production problems with certain well-defined aims: (1) creating plants which may be more extensively exploited than traditional ones; (2) using resources applicable to various types of production; (3) making possible total or partial reconversion, in terms of reasonable times and costs; and (4) maintaining or even reducing investment costs with respect to traditional systems. A careful choice of means and systems always provides ample solutions to these four aims, independently of the type and quantity of pieces to be produced. This paper describes the application of an FMS to the production of an automotive part: the cylinder block of a diesel engine, with the typical rhythms and timings of mass-production methods. This is a practical and relatively novel application of the FMS concept, in a field of production which traditionally uses rigid transport systems. In this particular case, we are dealing with quite large quantities of cylinder blocks (more than fifty thousand a year), of various types: one, two, three, or four cylinder blocks in cast iron and aluminium, but manufactured at different times and in varying quantities.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • ISATA 84, "In Pursuit of Technical Excellence". Proceedings Volume 2. International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation with particular reference to Vehicle Management Systems and Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Milan, Italy 24-28 September 1984.
• Corporate Authors:

  Automotive Automotion Limited

  42 Lloyd Park Avenue
  Croydon CRO 5SB, Surrey,   England 

  Alfa Romeo Auto SpA

  Milan,   Italy 
• Authors:
  • Torri, L
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile industry; Cylinder blocks; Flexibility; Manufacturing; Production
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399957
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: ISATA 84080, HS-038 497
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM