Special Characteristics of the Multi-product Manufacturing

The article considers the relevant processes of transition from "traditional" types of computer-aided manufacturing, including both large-scale and mass production, to flexible multi-product manufacturing. In this case, the mission to produce different new part lots is assigned to manufacturing systems consisting of machines with rather wide technological capabilities. In this article, the authors propose an original solution to one of the problems specifying the multi-product manufacturing - a rational choice of equipment capable to produce a given range of products in computer-aided manufacturing. The authors analyzed special characteristics of multi-product manufacturing, as well as identified and justified the need for elaborating a method for classification of workpieces and choice of machines for their processing. According to this study, the authors propose a method of developing the technology for multi-products parts' manufacturing. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.