Implementation Issues of AGVs in Flexible Manufacturing System: A Review

The future success of a manufacturing endeavor is likely to be determined by the speed and efficiency with which it incorporates new technologies into its operations. The objectives of production planning have shifted from how fast parts can be made to how efficiently parts can be transported between stations and in and out of storage. The responsibility for efficient work flow falls on the material handling system. Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems have gained widespread use and their importance for material handling is expected to grow rapidly. The advantages that such systems can offer include easier interface with other automated systems such as flexible manufacturing system. This paper presents a review on implementation issues of automated guided vehicle systems in flexible manufacturing system context. These issues will be discussed under design, panning and control strategies that arise in AGV system. In addition, we propose a integrated framework for implementation of automated guided vehicles in flexible manufacturing system.