Apparatus, system and method for performing automated finishing operations on a workpiece

A finishing station for performing an automated finishing operation on a surface of a workpiece, the finishing station comprising:

• a platen fabricated from a magnetic material and having a platen surface;
• a finishing module disposed on the platen surface and having a finishing operation end effector, wherein the finishing module generates a magnetic field that biases the finishing module toward the platen, and is operable to generate a magnetic flux to control movement of the least one finishing module over the platen surface to perform the automated finishing operation on the surface of the workpiece;
• and
• a finishing module controller coupled in communication with the finishing module, the finishing module controller configured to control the magnetic flux generated by the finishing module to move the finishing module over the platen surface to perform the automated finishing operation.