Fastems MMS Unifies Pallet and Direct Part Automation for Comprehensive Manufacturing Control

The new version of Fastems' Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) integrates three application areas in a single manufacturing software platform: pallet-based automation, automation of direct part handling with robots, and work cell operations for standalone machines and other manual manufacturing operations. The manufacturing processes in the individual areas can be planned, forecasted, controlled, and monitored separately or in combination as required. This allows the full transparency of manufacturing operations by providing a detailed overview of the entire production process. 

As a pallet automation cell controller, MMS provides a set of features developed for direct part handling. Now, the software platform also offers advanced production management functionality for robotized machine tending applications. New functionalities for part process plan definitions through the graphical user interface support this development. Together with parametric robot programs and coordinate-based part location management, the need for robot programming is minimized, and PLC programming can be avoided totally, according to the company.

MMS also delivers predictive and adaptive scheduling for automated production with industrial robots. The software also supports manufacturing resource planning by indicating missing resources such as cutting tools, raw materials, NC programs and the like. The new version manages order-based production in the robot cell with manufacturing batches. It can also produce several different workpieces simultaneously in different lot sizes, boosting flexibility.

Information about the required fixturing and clamping elements on the machine tool are now available, and MMS manages these as setups. It can schedule setup changes for the machine tools and, depending on the application, is even capable of changing the setup automatically with the robot, the company says.