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 at least one branch is provided in which a plurality of work sequence devices are arranged, wherein devices for non-chip forming workpiece treatment are arranged outside of the at least one branch;
• said method comprising:
• sequentially arranging work sequence devices in at least one branch and performing non-chip forming workpiece treatments outside of the at least one branch.