System and method for flexible manufacturing

A system for manufacturing comprising:

• a cell framework defining a manufacturing area;
• at least one workplace within the manufacturing area;
• at least one manufacturing component within the manufacturing area, the at least one manufacturing component comprising a C-shape frame (C-frame) and a sliding structure, the sliding structure comprising a lateral slider base, a lateral slider, and a column, wherein horizontal rails are provided on the lateral slider base for horizontally guiding movement of the lateral slider in an x-direction, wherein horizontal rails are provided on the lateral slider for horizontally guiding movement of the column in a y-direction orthogonal to the x-direction, and wherein the C-frame is provided on the column so as to be vertically movable along and relative to the column in a z-direction, wherein the C-frame is mounted on the sliding structure such that the C-frame is movable in the x-direction, the y-direction, and the z-direction in relation to the at least one workplace;
• a press provided to the C-frame, the press comprising a press arm;
• and
• a tool exchanger provided to the C-frame, the tool exchanger comprising a plurality of tools,
• wherein the tool exchanger is configured such that the press moves the tool exchanger between an indexing mode position and an operation mode position and the press arm is configured to, when the tool exchanger is moved to operation mode position, engage with a selected tool of the plurality of tools of the tool exchanger to operate the selected tool.