In manufacturing strategy, flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) enable quick and inexpensive product changes by integrating programmable machines, tooling, and control software to adapt with minimal downtime.

Introduction / Context:
Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) consist of numerically controlled machines, automated material handling, and central control that can reconfigure production with limited manual intervention. The strategic benefit is agility: the ability to switch products, update variants, and respond to demand without the cost and delay of major retooling.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Programmable equipment and software coordinate operations.
• Changeovers are a significant cost in traditional setups.
• Reduced downtime improves responsiveness and lowers unit costs for small batches.

Concept / Approach:
Because CNC programs, pallet fixtures, and scheduling logic are digital, updates can be deployed rapidly. Automated tool changers, standardized pallets, and modular fixtures minimize physical adjustments. Central control software optimizes routing and sequencing, while feedback from sensors allows quality control during changeovers. The net effect is the ability to alter products or features faster and at lower incremental cost than rigid, dedicated lines.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the core capability: rapid reconfiguration with minimal downtime.Relate enablers: CNC, tool changers, AGVs/AMRs, scheduling software.Compare to traditional lines that require extensive retooling.Select the option that states “quick and inexpensive product changes.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Manufacturers use FMS to produce families of parts on shared equipment, changing over via program selection and standardized setups, which validates the agility claim.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Factory management: broader managerial function, not the defining FMS benefit.Automated design: CAD/CAM benefits design, not the manufacturing flexibility per se.Tool design/production: important support activities, not the primary outcome of FMS.None of the above: incorrect because rapid product changes are central to FMS.

Common Pitfalls:
Overlooking setup standardization; ignoring part family analysis; underestimating scheduling complexity; and assuming flexibility without investing in training and data integration.

Final Answer:
Quick and inexpensive product changes