Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for organizing hierarchical information according to a defined objective.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an improved production planning method that avoids or limits early builds. The method comprises running a conventional production planning program using standard inputs (e.g., date effective yields). The outputs of the program (e.g., a plan including planned inventory overstocks at given times) are evaluated to determine if the program plans an early build and if the planned early build may have been triggered by a predicted decrease in yield. If an early build is planned and if a correlation exists between the decrease in yield and the early build, then, optionally, new constraints are added into the program and the program is re-run so that the early build is either avoided or limited to that of the proper yield. Thus, the method can be used to reduce early builds due to an incorrect, nominally higher, yield without requiring the user to provide any special additional input data.

Abstract: A method, system, and program storage device for implementing the method of controlling a manufacturing system, wherein the method comprises providing a plurality of workpieces to be processed on a processing tool, the plurality of workpieces located at processing stations prior to the processing tool, determining auxiliary equipment allocation needs for the processing tool based on characteristics associated with the plurality of workpieces prior to the workpieces arriving at the processing tool, and sending auxiliary equipment to the processing tool based on the allocation needs prior to the workpieces arriving at the processing tool. According to an embodiment of the invention, the processing tool comprises a photolithographic system, the auxiliary equipment comprises a reticle, and the plurality of workpieces comprise semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of instant messaging between users on any computing devices. One aspect of the invention is to automatically identify the status of an intended recipient and transform the details into a meaningful summary status which will be displayed to the sending user. Another aspect of the invention is to mitigate interruptions to a recipient by delaying the receipt of the message based on particular rules. Another aspect of the invention monitors the instant messaging activity of a user for efficiency and then suggests appropriate actions to improve the efficiency. The monitoring is based on measurements taken periodically and a set of rules can be used to detect inefficiencies. Once inefficiency is detected, an instant notification can be sent to the user or periodic reports can be sent to the user, management or any other entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for controlling the flow of material in a manufacturing facility using an extended zone of control. A method in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention comprises establishing an extended zone of control including a high impact tool set and at least one other tool set, analyzing projected job arrivals at the high impact tool set, and adjusting a flow of material between the high impact tool set and the at least one other tool set based on the analysis of projected job arrivals at the high impact tool set.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a plurality of coefficients of an objective function of a mathematical programming model. Attributes of the model are identified. A first set of coefficient values determining a first solution and initially representing the plurality of coefficients is determined by employing a specified ranking of the attributes. A prevailing solution is initialized to the first solution. Additional sets of coefficient values are generated, each set determining a corresponding additional solution of the model. The additional solutions are evaluated (e.g., by the Analytic Hierarchy Process) to provide a ranking of the solutions, where the ranking is dependent upon the attributes. The ranking of the additional solutions is used to select a second solution. The prevailing solution is set to the second solution if the second solution exceeds a sum of the prevailing solution and a specified tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for improved flow of development lots in a manufacturing facility. A method in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: establishing at least one target for processing of a set of development lots in the manufacturing facility; monitoring a progress of the set of development lots in the manufacturing facility; comparing the progress of the set of development lots against the at least one target; establishing at least one suggested action for the set of development lots if the progress of the set of development lots deviates from the at least one target; and deciding which development lots in the set of development lots to assign to at least one tool in the manufacturing facility, wherein the at least one suggested action is incorporated into the assignment decision.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for scheduling product lots through operations of a manufacturing line. The method including: selecting a sequential subset of a set of sequential operations required to manufacture the lots; partitioning the product lots into designated lots and non-designated lots; and generating a release schedule for each of the non-designated lots into one or more operations of the sequential subset of the set of sequential operations; generating a release schedule for each of the designated lots into each operation of the sequential subset of the set of sequential operations such that for each designated lot a total amount of time measured from completion of a first operation of the sequential subset of the set of sequential operations through start of a last operation of the sequential subset of the set of sequential operations does not exceed a target amount of time for the designated lots.

Abstract: A therapeutic micro-vibration massaging device that also generates both a dynamic induction magnetic force field and an electromagnetic photonic optical light beam field, accompanied by audible acoustic sound, that penetrates the human body, induces an increase in cellular energy and thereby promotes a curative healing effect that reduces or eliminates pain.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a method for isolating improvement opportunities based upon linear programming output. In particular, the invention allows the user to select variables and automatically connects those variables to their indirect variables and equations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a manufacturing system. The invention automatically monitors current levels of partially completed products waiting to be processed by a tool (or group of tools) and determines whether the current levels exceed a predetermined limit. If the current levels do exceed the predetermined limit, the invention performs an optimization process. However, if the current levels do not exceed the predetermined limit, the invention performs a dispatching process. In this dispatching process, the invention automatically projects future levels of partially completed products that will be supplied to the tool to identify a future work-in-process (WIP) bubble. The WIP bubble occurs when larger than normal amounts of partially completed products are supplied to the tool. The invention automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the tool based upon both the current levels and the future levels.

Abstract: A method, system, and program storage device for implementing the method of controlling a manufacturing system, wherein the method comprises providing a plurality of workpieces to be processed on a processing tool, the plurality of workpieces located at processing stations prior to the processing tool, determining auxiliary equipment allocation needs for the processing tool based on characteristics associated with the plurality of workpieces prior to the workpieces arriving at the processing tool, and sending auxiliary equipment to the processing tool based on the allocation needs prior to the workpieces arriving at the processing tool. According to an embodiment of the invention, the processing tool comprises a photolithographic system, the auxiliary equipment comprises a reticle, and the plurality of workpieces comprise semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of authorizing access to an item that maintains a lockout count and blocks access to the item if the lockout count exceeds a predetermined value. One feature is that the invention “variably” increments the lockout count if the presented password fails to exactly match the stored password. In this process the invention increments the lockout count different amounts depending upon how closely the presented password matches the stored password. The invention also provides a methodology that allocates a plurality of the same passwords to a plurality of users who share the same userid. The invention allows continuous operation of the item being accessed by providing that each of the passwords has a different expiration date. Also, when dealing with situations where a plurality of users who share the same userid also share the same password, the invention maps information associated with the users to the password in a data file and periodically updates the data file.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for achieving consideration of preemptive priorities within a supply chain optimization model. More specifically, the invention provides a method of allocating resources to a hierarchy of demand priorities in a linear programming production planning system. In particular, the invention aggregates the demand priorities into different priority groups and allocates the resources to the highest priority group of demand priorities using a first linear programming model. Next, the invention allocates remaining resources to the next highest priority group of demand priorities using a second linear programming model. The second linear programming model uses results from the first linear programming model. The invention continues this process by iteratively repeating the process of allocating remaining resources to the remaining groups of demand priorities, in order of priority.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple customer demand dates within an advanced planning system. The invention provides a method of production planning that considers multiple due dates. The invention solves a production planning model based upon the second (commit) date to produce a first solution, sorts the demand records in order of importance, and then re-solves the production planning model based upon the first (request) date to produce a second solution. The re-solving process is performed on each demand item in the sorted order of importance. The invention optimizes between the first solution and the second solution. Before re-solving the production planning model, the invention changes the lower bound constraints on backorder variables. The re-solving process changes the required date for a single demand item, and this re-solving process is repeated for all demand items that have a first (request) date that is before a corresponding required date.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of rescheduling timing of when items on purchase orders are scheduled to be received in a linear programming production planning system. This methodology performs a pre-processing rescheduling of the timing of purchase order receipts into the earliest time period allowable in a pre-processing step. After this pre-processing, the invention solves the core production planning system equations using the rescheduled purchase order receipts. Then, the invention performs post-processing rescheduling, which sorts the purchase order receipts according to rescheduling flexibility, and subsequently sequentially reschedules the timing of each of the purchase order receipts in the order established by the sorting process. This process of sequentially rescheduling reschedules the timing of purchase order receipts into the latest time period allowable.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for determining a production plan that includes a first step that determines the minimum number of manufacturing starts that are required to meet contractual obligations; and a second step which determines a production plan satisfying the minimum manufacturing starts together with other customer demands. More specifically, the invention presents a method of allocating production starts (e.g., wafer starts) in a manufacturing facility (e.g., wafer foundry) using a linear programming production planning system which performs a first stage of linear programming to satisfy only contractually mandated minimum production starts constraints followed by a second stage of linear programming to satisfy the additional constraints, once the minimum starts constraints are satisfied.

Abstract: The invention disclosed comprises a method for encouraging fair sharing of limited material inventory and capacity between multiple customers when creating a production plan. the invention allocates resources among competing demands in a linear programming production planning system by first classifying the demands into fair share sets, wherein all demands within each set have the same priority, calculating the cumulative demand for each resource within each set, and then allocating the resources to the demands in order of fair share set priority. If, during the allocating process, the supply of a given resource cannot satisfy a given cumulative demand of a given set, the given resource is allocated proportionally (e.g., evenly or according to usage proportions) among all demands that contribute to the given cumulative demand within the given set. This is an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system comprising the identification of live stocking points and the filtering of files to include only live stocking points. The inventive stocking points reflect not only the part number but also the location within the bills of materials supply chain. The invention also provides a method and system for identifying live stocking points which efficiently handles circular supply chain flows such as those occurring due to: plants shipping to each other, planned rework, and part numbers being substituted for each other. In addition, the invention identifies live stocking points where only parts and locations that may be supplied are identified as live. The invention identifies the ability to substitute parts (“suppliability”) by examining component supply, inventory, capability to build, planned receipts, and capability of supplying the parts through substitution of other part(s).

Abstract: Allocating limited manufacturing resources to achieve a feasible production plan that is consistent with customer demand is a difficult and common problem faced in many manufacturing industries. For large-scale multi-stage manufacturing systems, existing methods are typically based either on allocating limited resources sequentially, according to a priority ranked list of production starts, or on linear programming based models. The output of such planning models is a production plan which specifies the quantity of each part to produce at each plant, using resources available to the enterprise. Typically there are lot-sizing rules defining the permissible production start quantities. The invention disclosed herein is a method for applying these rules to the lot-sizing of production starts within a linear program. It employs advanced heuristics that consider both established operational objectives (e.g.