In the circus, flexibility is a key attribute. Acrobats, jugglers, aerialists and other performers have to twist and turn innumerable ways. And, the people behind the scenes often have to jump through hoops and bend over backwards to ensure that the show goes smoothly.
In the three-ring world of manufacturing, machine builders and systems integrators have long touted the benefits of flexible, modular assembly systems. In theory, manufacturers benefit because the equipment can be used for more than one product line or more than one assembly process.