Basic production systems

A system is a set of components [components: The different elements that make up a system or device. ] arranged in the order needed to carry out a particular function - in this case designing and making a product. Systems can consist of mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumaticpneumatic: Powered by air under pressure. or hydraulichydraulic: Powered by the movement of water or another liquid. components. Some systems will combine components from more than one of these groups.

Key parts of a system

• input - whatever goes into the system
• process - where various kinds of operation take place
• output - whatever is produced by the system
• feedback - where information about the output is used to change the input, or change the process, or start up another system.

This diagram shows how these elements interact: