www.theinternationaljournal.org > RJSITM: Volume: 02, Number: 06, April-2013 Page 7 Performance Improvement of Flexible Manufacturing System: A Case Study Abid Ali, Rafi Javed Qureshi & Mirza Jahanzaib Department of Industrial Engineering University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan. Abstract—Extensive competition in manufacturing have left no space for system inefficiencies and it has evolved a manufacturing environment which seeks reduced manufacturing lead times, increased quality standards, vast product variety and competitive cost. The trend towards globalization requires these manufacturing environments to be designed such that it can cater challenges of market place to survive and grow. To cope with these challenges the technologies support with automation and flexibility. The objectives of improvement of manufacturing environment are the basis of emergence of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). In this paper a case study of small and medium enterprise (SME) is presented with contribution of some performance improvement methods for flexible manufacturing system. Analytical models illustrated in literature are employed to estimate the performance measures like utilization and maximum production rate. Development of an improved design for existing flexible manufacturing system of SME is also part of this study. In addition to simulation of manufacturing system, various performance parameters are compared and evaluated for existing and improved FMS. Keywords— Flexible Manufacturing System, Utilization, Production Rate, Performance Measures 1. Introduction Intense competition in manufacturing environment offers new strains to the manufacturing systems, such as increasing diversity, delivery on time with emphasize on conventional standards of quality and competitive cost. Therefore, in global scenario, the focus is on a developing manufacturing system that can meet all the required conditions within due dates at a reasonable cost. The introduction of flexible manufacturing system (FMS) allows manufacturing industry, to improve their performance, together with the flexibility to make individual product at medium volume. A flexible Manufacturing system (FMS) can be defined as a computer-controlled configuration of semi-dependent jobs and material handling systems designed to efficiently produce different mixes of product with low to medium volume. It blends high flexibility with high productivity and low work-in-process. The delicacy of the FMS is that it is taken from the ideas both from the current loading and batch workshop manufacturing system and is designed to imitate the flexibility of job shops, while maintaining the effectiveness of its own. To meet demands with minimum marksman simultaneously is should be objective a manufacturing system such as FMS. A general FMS is able to process a variety of products in small and medium batches simultaneously. The Flexibility of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) enabled it as the most appropriate manufacturing systems in the current manufacturing circumstances. With the aim of producing combining flexibility and productivity, the design of the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is the subject of huge investment. Deterministic Models are based on discrete event simulation, can be used to design the production Systems such as FMS. The distinctive design and size of the hardware requirements for an FMS require attention and care at strategic level. The layout and design of the system is to be designed by keeping the targeted production in mind ensuring that FMS will fulfill the fluctuating demands. The design decisions must be based on the FMS to justify the performance improvements. This paper presents the evaluation of existing flexible manufacturing system with the objective of improvements in the performance of system by bringing modifications into the system. 2. Literature Review The concept of providing variety of products with flexible manufacturing processes in large quantities at the lowest possible cost incurred in the late 1980s.The flexible manufacturing, after decades of