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The document outlines three types of automation in production: fixed, programmable, and flexible automation. Fixed automation is characterized by high initial investment and production rates suitable for large volumes, while programmable automation allows for batch production with changeovers requiring reprogramming. Flexible automation improves upon programmable automation by enabling quick, automatic changeovers and continuous production of varied products, albeit with a high investment for custom systems.

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Beatus Kwilasa
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3 views

Time response

The document outlines three types of automation in production: fixed, programmable, and flexible automation. Fixed automation is characterized by high initial investment and production rates suitable for large volumes, while programmable automation allows for batch production with changeovers requiring reprogramming. Flexible automation improves upon programmable automation by enabling quick, automatic changeovers and continuous production of varied products, albeit with a high investment for custom systems.

Uploaded by

Beatus Kwilasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Three types of automation in production can be distinguished:

(1) fixed automation,

(2) programmable automation, and

(3) flexible automation.

Fixed automation, also known as “hard automation,” refers to an automated production facility in
which the sequence of processing operations is fixed by the equipment configuration. In effect, the
programmed commands are contained in the machines in the form of cams, gears, wiring, and other
hardware that is not easily changed over from one product style to another.

This form of automation is characterised by high initial investment and high production rates. It is
therefore suitable for products that are made in large volumes.

Examples of fixed automation include machining transfer lines found in the automotive industry,
automatic assembly machines, and certain chemical processes.

Programmable automation In programmable automation the production equipment is designed with


the capability to change the sequence of operations to accommodate different product configurations.

The operation sequence is controlled by a program, which is a set of instructions coded so that
thesystem can read and interpret them is a form of automation for producing products in batches. The
products are made in batch quantities ranging from several dozen to several thousand units at a time.
For each new batch, the production equipment must be reprogrammed and changed over to
accommodate the new product style.

This reprogramming and change over take time to accomplish, and there is a period of non productive
time followed by a production run for each new batch. Production rates in programmable automation
are generally lower than in fixed automation, because the equipment is designed to facilitate product
changeover rather than for product specialisation.

A numerical-control machine tool is a good example of programmable automation. The program is


coded in computer memory for each different product style, and the machine tool is controlled by the
computer program. Industrial robots are another example.

Flexible automation is an extension of programmable automation. The disadvantage with


programmable automation is the time required to reprogram and change over the production
equipment for each batch of new product.

This is lost production time, which is expensive. In flexible automation, the variety of products is
sufficiently limited so that the changeover of the equipment can be done very quickly and automatically.
The reprogramming of the equipment in flexible automation is done off-line; that is, the programming is
accomplished at a computer terminal without using the production equipment itself. Accordingly, there
is no need to group identical products into batches; instead, a mixture of different products can be
produced one right after another.

The features of flexible automation can be summarized as follows:

• High investment for a custom-engineered system


• Continuous production of variable mixtures of products
• Medium production rates
• Flexibility to deal with product design variations

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