Manufacturing system having a plurality of machine tools and method for operating a manufacturing system

Method for operating a manufacturing system having a plurality of machine tools for performing chip-forming working operations on workpieces, said manufacturing system comprising:

• a plurality of work sequence devices, each of which comprises at least one machine tool, wherein the work sequence devices are sequentially arranged and different chip-forming workpiece working operations are performed in different work sequence devices;
• and
• an automated transport device for transporting workpieces within and between work sequence devices;
• wherein a central device is provided which is connected to the automated transport device and to which workpieces are deliverable from work sequence devices via the automated transport device;
• said method comprising:
• performing at least one of (i) transferring workpieces out of a work sequence device and transporting them to the central device in an automated manner by the automated transport device and (ii) transporting workpieces away from the central device and transferring them into a work sequence device in an automated manner by the automated transport device.