Equipment and buffer map
Locate each machine, pallet or part buffer, handling unit and manual load point; record travel paths and the states available to FMS.
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Production Management
NEXTAS FMS System — Flexible Manufacturing Management Platform
A production management platform for configured schedules, connected machine data, traceable records and live dashboards across one cell or a larger line.
Use one agreed scope to plan work, view connected equipment states and link production records. Existing ERP, MES, PLC and automation-control roles must be mapped before integration; FMS does not replace them by default.
FMS is the software and control layer. Cells, robots and pallet magazines are separate hardware scope. Fit depends on the exact controllers, protocols, I/O, firmware, network and handshake list, including projects that use the NEXTAS Automation Series.
8 Core ModulesDashboard, planning, production, machine, tool and fixture management, plus AI vision inspection and OEE display.
Multi-Machine CoordinationCoordinates approved schedules and available states across the machines and handling units connected by the project.
Traceability ScopeLinks the order, machine, tool, fixture and inspection records included in the approved project data map.
Lead time: Confirmed after drawing, quantity and scope review
MOQ: 1 set
Payment: T/T · L/C
Quality documents scoped at RFQ
MIC Audited Supplier
FMS ROLLOUT DECISION
Choose the FMS rollout path
Choose by the coordination problem and validated interfaces—not by a fixed machine count. Start with the smallest accepted scope, then add modules as data and handshakes are verified.
45-second system overview
See How NEXTAS FMS Connects the Production Flow
This overview shows the physical production context—CNC machines, robotic handling, and coordinated cell flow. Software modules, interfaces, and acceptance criteria are detailed below and defined for each site.
Review the 8 modules8 Functional Modules
Each module covers one part of production management. Enabled modules, connected data and handoffs are fixed in the project scope.
System Dashboard
Configurable view of the production progress, process steps, orders and equipment states supplied by connected sources.
Production Planning
Can receive approved ERP/MES order fields and create schedules from configured priority and queue rules.
Production Management
Records completed, in-process, queued and exception states when the required order fields and state updates are available.
Machine Management
Displays available machine states and linked tool, fixture or process-version records from the mapped data sources.
Tool Management
Links configured tool positions and life fields, then issues change prompts according to the approved rules and source data.
Fixture Management
Fixture-to-pallet/datum configuration, positioning and clamping confirmation, repeatability logging with a project-defined sample size and acceptance plan.
AI Vision Inspection
Uses the selected cameras, lighting, model and thresholds to check agreed features. Detection performance requires representative samples and an acceptance plan.
Equipment OEE Display
Calculates configured uptime, downtime, load and efficiency fields from connected state data and agreed downtime codes.
Project-Defined Digital Handoffs
The workflow can link product setup, approved ERP/MES fields and FMS execution. Traceability covers only the mapped data and verified interfaces in the accepted project scope.
Product setup to execution pipeline
1
Product Configuration
Machine program, tool list, fixture type, cycle time and quality checkpoints are defined in the system.
2
ERP/MES Link
Approved material, quantity, due-date and priority fields can pass from ERP/MES after mapping and interface tests.
3
Schedule Generation
FMS can generate a schedule from the configured machine, tool, order-priority and exception rules.
4
Real-time Execution
Approved equipment can receive configured commands and return the states made available by its interface.
5
Quality & Traceability
The selected vision setup records inspection output. Pass or fail authority follows the approved inspection and acceptance plan.
6
Data Close
Approved production, tool and inspection fields can return to ERP after the data map and write-back rules are tested.
Four-layer architecture
Architecture and integration boundaries
The four layers separate display, scheduling, execution interfaces and communication. Expanding from one cell to more equipment requires an approved interface map, licenses, network capacity and renewed acceptance checks.
1
Display Layer
Shows the states, orders and progress fields available through the approved machine and business-system interfaces.
2
Decision Layer
Applies the approved priority, load, routing and exception rules to propose what connected equipment should do next.
3
Execution Layer
Sends configured commands and reads available states from approved machine, handling and storage interfaces.
4
Industrial Communication Layer
Can use OPC UA, Profinet, EtherCAT, Modbus or another agreed method. Device implementation, data fields and handshake behavior must be confirmed for the project.
Define the FMS Scope Before Implementation
Confirm machine interfaces, scheduling rules, data ownership, network limits and acceptance tests before the module and rollout scope is accepted.
What to confirm before project start
- Machine integration scope: which machines will be controlled, how many are in the line, and what control protocols they support.
- Data integration paths: ERP/MES connectivity, RFID requirements, tool/fixture data sources and quality data collection.
- Scheduling requirements: simple batch priority or complex load balancing, exception handling rules and re-scheduling frequency.
- Communication protocols: OPC UA, Profinet, EtherCAT, Modbus or other industrial protocols required for equipment connection.
One possible phased route
Choose the phase order from the site's approved interfaces, operational need and test plan:
Phase 1: Visibility
Connect approved state data to the dashboard before adding scheduling.
Phase 2: Scheduling
Add production planning and order sequencing after priority and exception rules are accepted.
Phase 3: Precision
Add tool and fixture records after their source fields and alert rules are mapped.
Phase 4: Quality
Add the validated vision task and the traceability fields included in the accepted data map.
FMS LAYOUT PLANNING
What an FMS layout review must confirm
Use these planning inputs to define the engineering review. They are not a customer deployment, installed-performance record or substitute for site validation.
Safety and recovery zones
Separate safeguarding, access, fault-recovery and manual-intervention responsibilities. FMS coordination does not replace the complete cell risk assessment.
Utilities and interface points
Confirm power, air, network, controller, I/O and protocol connection points together with cable routes, ownership and handshake tests.
Service and expansion space
Reserve access for maintenance, calibration, replenishment and recovery, plus any future equipment that is included in the approved expansion boundary.
Expected review output
A project review should return a scaled concept layout, equipment and interface list, open-risk log, ownership map and acceptance boundary for the selected site—not a generic plant template.
BUSINESS-CASE INPUTS
Build a site-specific FMS business case
Calculate from the current site's measured baseline and a validated operating scenario. This page does not guarantee savings, productivity gains or payback time.
Current baseline
Record part mix, batch size, changeover, staffed and unstaffed hours, stoppages, scrap handling and the present planning workload.
Validated operating scenario
Use only the machine states, scheduling rules, recovery method and unattended operation that the interface and acceptance plan can support.
Full cost model
Include software, controls, licenses, integration, training, validation, infrastructure, maintenance and recurring support—not only equipment purchase.
Risk and sensitivity
Test conservative and base scenarios for demand, availability, ramp-up, exceptions and contingency before the business case is approved.
Decision boundary: compare scenarios only after the site baseline, interface scope and acceptance assumptions are documented. No universal ROI or site-independent payback claim is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the FMS System and the Automation Series?
The Automation Series covers physical hardware — vault cells, rotary warehouses, truss units. The FMS System is the software and control platform that coordinates scheduling, traceability, tool management and production visibility across those physical units.
Does the FMS System require all automation hardware to be from NEXTAS?
Controller, I/O, PLC, protocol, firmware, and handshake compatibility must be confirmed for the exact machine and project signal list. The website does not make a blanket compatibility claim for controller or CNC brands.
When should a factory consider FMS instead of standalone automation?
Consider FMS when several machines or handling units need a shared schedule or common production records. Confirm controller, I/O, network, safety-system roles and fault recovery before using the software in an unattended cell.
Can the FMS System be phased in?
Yes. Each phase needs a written module scope, data owner, interface test and acceptance method. The factory does not have to implement all 8 modules at once.
How is the FMS implementation schedule confirmed?
The schedule depends on the selected modules, machine and controller interfaces, protocols and data sources, layout, rollout phase, training, and acceptance scope. Engineering confirms project milestones in the quotation; the website does not guarantee a fixed implementation time.
What project and acceptance documentation is defined for a NEXTAS FMS implementation?
The agreed FMS handoff may include the architecture and interface map, protocol or data-source scope, acceptance records, training scope, and recovery responsibilities. The quotation or order confirmation defines the exact deliverables; the website does not promise the same document package for every implementation.
Related Products
Automation Series
Physical automation hardware including vault cells, rotary storage and truss units. FMS compatibility is confirmed from the selected controls and project interface list.
View Details →
Automatic Pallet Changer
Pallet-exchange hardware that can be reviewed for FMS integration when its controller, I/O and state data are known.
View Details →
Zero-Point Systems
Datum-interface hardware that can be represented in FMS after the selected models, pallet records and available states are mapped.
View Details →
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