Think about an automated precision sheet metal operation, one with all the technological bells and whistles at every manufacturing step. A flexible manufacturing system brings sheet from a live-inventory tower system to a laser cutting bed.
The formed pieces are stacked and then brought to processes downstream like welding and powder coating. It’s the epitome of flexible manufacturing automation—except, that is, for all the workers driving fork trucks or pushing carts full of parts.
https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/automationrobotics/automation-in-metal-fabrication-continues-to-become-more-mobile