A method of operating a hot melt adhesive dispensing system, comprising the steps of: - providing a supply of hot melt adhesive to be dispensed; - providing an output device having at least one dispensing nozzle; characterized by - providing at least two pumps (150, 152) for fluidically pumping hot melt adhesive from said supply of hot melt adhesive to said at least one dispensing nozzle; and - interposing valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) between said at least two pumps (150, 152) and said at least one dispensing nozzle for permitting said hot melt adhesive dispensing system to achieve THREE dispensing states, a FIRST OFF state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is CLOSED with respect to both of said at least two pumps (150, 152) such that hot melt adhesive outputs from both of said at least two pumps is prevented from reaching said at least one dispensing nozzle, a SECOND PARTIAL VOLUME state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is CLOSED with respect to a first one of said at least two pumps (150, 152) but OPENED with respect to a second one of said at least two pumps so as to permit the hot melt adhesive output from said second one of said at least two pumps to reach said at least one dispensing nozzle, and a THIRD FULL VOLUME state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is OPENED with respect to both of said at least two pumps (150, 152) so as to permit the hot melt adhesive outputs from both of said at least two pumps to reach said at least one dispensing nozzle, - interposing a first valve (190, 236) of said valve means between said at least two pumps (150, 152) and said at least one dispensing nozzle for preventing the output flow of both of said at least two pumps from reaching said at least one dispensing nozzle as a result of said first valve (190, 236) being CLOSED, thereby defining said FIRST OFF state of said hot melt adhesive metering system. - providing a supply of hot melt adhesive to be dispensed; - providing an output device having at least one dispensing nozzle; - providing at least two pumps (150, 152) for fluidically pumping hot melt adhesive from said supply of hot melt adhesive to said at least one dispensing nozzle; and - interposing valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) between said at least two pumps (150, 152) and said at least one dispensing nozzle for permitting said hot melt adhesive dispensing system to achieve THREE dispensing states, a FIRST OFF state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is CLOSED with respect to both of said at least two pumps (150, 152) such that hot melt adhesive outputs from both of said at least two pumps is prevented from reaching said at least one dispensing nozzle, a SECOND PARTIAL VOLUME state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is CLOSED with respect to a first one of said at least two pumps (150, 152) but OPENED with respect to a second one of said at least two pumps so as to permit the hot melt adhesive output from said second one of said at least two pumps to reach said at least one dispensing nozzle, and a THIRD FULL VOLUME state wherein said valve means (190, 236; 210, 238; 264) is OPENED with respect to both of said at least two pumps (150, 152) so as to permit the hot melt adhesive outputs from both of said at least two pumps to reach said at least one dispensing nozzle, - interposing a first valve (190, 236) of said valve means between said at least two pumps (150, 152) and said at least one dispensing nozzle for preventing the output flow of both of said at least two pumps from reaching said at least one dispensing nozzle as a result of said first valve (190, 236) being CLOSED, thereby defining said FIRST OFF state of said hot melt adhesive metering system.