Flexible manufacturing systems are being implemented at a rapidly increasing rate. A study of management issues arising from the implementation of flexible manufacturing systems was undertaken between June 1985 and March 1986. This article is based on the study of twelve systems in the UK and is primarily concerned with flexibility and its achievement. The survey showed that management objectives were inconsistent and incongruent. Such inconsistencies and incongruencies have influenced the flexibility of systems. Emergent rather than deliberate strategies for flexible manufacturing system development have been observed. A flexibility audit in conjunction with the setting of long‐term and shorter‐term company objectives is recommended for future applications.