Abstract: The invention provides an index of line balance method for maintaining optimum queued quantities of products at a manufacturing step and over an entire manufacturing line. The method begins by: first, assigning a daily standard move of product (Std Move) which should be produced in a manufacturing line. Second, the standard WIP StdWIP is calculated for each manufacturing stage i by multiplying the theoretical cycle time C/T of each stage by the daily standard move StdMove; (i.e., StdWIP=CT*StdMove). Third, the difference Di between the current WIP CWi and standard WIP StdWIP at every stage i. (Di=Cwi-Swi, ) is calculated. Fourth, the cumulative difference CDi between current WIP Cwi and standard WIP StdWIP of every stage i from stage i to stage n is calculated. ##EQU1## Fifth, the index of line balance BIi is calculated by dividing the sum of all positive CDi from stage i to stage n by the absolute value of the sum of all negative CDi from stage i to stage n.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for operating a data processing system including a data base computer system and a resource allocation computer for control of resource allocation in a manufacturing plant with a manufacturing line comprising a plurality of stages with manufacturing machines, the resource allocation computer including data storage means. The method includes several steps including: deriving data from the data storage means and computing the targets for each of the stages; obtaining machine capacity data from the data storage means and employing the machine capacity data for allocating machine capacity proportionally and adjusting targets; adding limits to stages of penetration and adjusting targets; determining residual capacity and allocating the residual capacity of the manufacturing machines; and checking the convergence of targets and machine allocation until convergence is achieved.

Abstract: In a semiconductor manufacturing fabrication plant with production to-order type operation, hundreds of devices and various processes are managed. To provide short cycle time and precise delivery to satisfy customer expectations is a major task. A dispatching algorithm named "Required Turn Rate (RTR)" functions according to the level of current wafers in process (WIP) algorithm revising the due date for every lot to satisfy the demand from Master Production Scheduling (MPS). Further the RTR algorithm calculates the RTR of each lot based on process flow to fulfill the delivery requirement. The RTR algorithm determines not only due date and production priority of each lot, but also provides RTR for local dispatching. The local dispatching systems of each working area dispatch the lots by using required turn rate to maximize output and machines utilization.