A hot melt adhesive dispensing unit comprising: an adhesive supply for receiving solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material, an adhesive supply heater associated with said adhesive supply for melting the solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material, and a metering system comprising: a manifold connected to said adhesive supply for receiving the liquid hot melt adhesive material and splitting the liquid hot melt adhesive material into flow streams, a flow rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material flow streams, said flow rate sensor generating flow rate information, a pump connected to said manifold for pumping liquid hot melt adhesive material from said adhesive supply into said manifold, said pump including a pump motor, a variable frequency drive controlling the speed of said pump motor and being connected to said flow rate sensor to receive said flow rate information, further comprising a controller providing control information to said variable frequency drive, wherein the control information includes a target flow rate, and wherein said variable frequency drive adjusts the speed of said pump motor so that said flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material approximates said target flow rate. an adhesive supply for receiving solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material, an adhesive supply heater associated with said adhesive supply for melting the solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material, and a metering system comprising: a manifold connected to said adhesive supply for receiving the liquid hot melt adhesive material and splitting the liquid hot melt adhesive material into flow streams, a flow rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material flow streams, said flow rate sensor generating flow rate information, a pump connected to said manifold for pumping liquid hot melt adhesive material from said adhesive supply into said manifold, said pump including a pump motor, a variable frequency drive controlling the speed of said pump motor and being connected to said flow rate sensor to receive said flow rate information, further comprising a controller providing control information to said variable frequency drive, wherein the control information includes a target flow rate, and wherein said variable frequency drive adjusts the speed of said pump motor so that said flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material approximates said target flow rate. a manifold connected to said adhesive supply for receiving the liquid hot melt adhesive material and splitting the liquid hot melt adhesive material into flow streams, a flow rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material flow streams, said flow rate sensor generating flow rate information, a pump connected to said manifold for pumping liquid hot melt adhesive material from said adhesive supply into said manifold, said pump including a pump motor, a variable frequency drive controlling the speed of said pump motor and being connected to said flow rate sensor to receive said flow rate information, further comprising a controller providing control information to said variable frequency drive, wherein the control information includes a target flow rate, and wherein said variable frequency drive adjusts the speed of said pump motor so that said flow rate of the liquid hot melt adhesive material approximates said target flow rate.