Flexible manufacturing systems, compliance to the safety standards

Safety improvements of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs) are improving usability of the system usability and also the competitiveness of the manufacturing. The aims of this study were 1) to analyze the deficiencies in and the risks of flexible manufacturing system (FMS) implementations 2) to clarify whether the systems meet the demands of safety standards and 3) to suggest safety system improvements. The study was made by using the Safety Analysis for Production Automation and the Safety Checklist for FMSs. The data were gathered by interviewing key managers and workers employed by 22 Finnish companies with FMS implementations. The study showed that although the companies considered the FM systems as one of their safest functions in the workshops, many of the systems do not fulfill the most common requirements of the safety standards. The requirements were met by 70% of the targets studied. Installation and maintenance functions best meet these requirements, whereas the layout of the systems and their mechanical structure were the most poorly designed areas. Especially poor were the safety and ergonomics of the loading! unloading stations. This paper presents additional information about the deficiencies found in the FM-systems and companies, involvement in them. The results shed new light on safety and ergonomic aspects to be considered in designing and using FM-systems. The data can be used to help industry meet safety demands and to improve the efficiency of new FMS implementations. © 1996 Springer-Verlag London Limited.