Abstract: A control system for a production process having a plurality of operations. A plurality of time constraints exist between the operations. The control system includes a control module that defines a plurality of sub-time constraints between each two operations, generates a plurality of equations according to the time constraints and the sub-time constraints, and calculates the sub-time constraints using the equations. The control module then determines whether a status for each operation defined according to a Work-In-Process (WIP) quantity between a first operation and a checked operation and a throughput rate thereof violates sub-time constraints between the first operation and the checked operation, and releases a lot into the production line if the status for each operation satisfies the corresponding sum of the sub-time constraints.

Abstract: A systematic approach for generating a work release plan that considers both demand and supply variables. The approach comprises prioritizing scheduled lots in order of their critical ratios, estimating an initial daily release quota for the scheduled lots based on both pull and push requirements, and determining detailed capacity constraints for the manufacturing system. The approach further comprises testing whether the initial daily release quota complies with the detailed capacity constraints, and, if the detailed capacity constraints are violated, rearranging the lots in the initial daily release quota so that the detailed capacity constraints are met.

Abstract: A control system for a production process having a plurality of operations. A plurality of time constraints exist between the operations. The control system includes a control module that defines a plurality of sub-time constraints between each two operations, generates a plurality of equations according to the time constraints and the sub-time constraints, and calculates the sub-time constraints using the equations. The control module then determines whether a status for each operation defined according to a Work-In-Process (WIP) quantity between a first operation and a checked operation and a throughput rate thereof violates sub-time constraints between the first operation and the checked operation, and releases a lot into the production line if the status for each operation satisfies the corresponding sum of the sub-time constraints.

Abstract: A systematic approach for generating a work release plan that considers both demand and supply variables. The approach comprises prioritizing scheduled lots in order of their critical ratios, estimating an initial daily release quota for the scheduled lots based on both pull and push requirements, and determining detailed capacity constraints for the manufacturing system. The approach further comprises testing whether the initial daily release quota complies with the detailed capacity constraints, and, if the detailed capacity constraints are violated, rearranging the lots in the initial daily release quota so that the detailed capacity constraints are met.

Abstract: Within a method for approximating a cycle time for fabricating a microelectronic fabrication within a microelectronic fabrication facility there is first determined from historic data for fabrication of the microelectronic fabrication within the microelectronic fabrication facility a constant which correlates previous microelectronic fabrication loadings and cycle times within the microelectronic fabrication facility. The correlating constant may then be employed for approximating a cycle time for a future work in process (WIP) quantity of the microelectronic fabrication within the microelectronic fabrication facility.

Abstract: Within a method for approximating a cycle time for fabricating a microelectronic fabrication within a microelectronic fabrication facility there is first determined from historic data for fabrication of the microelectronic fabrication within the microelectronic fabrication facility a constant which correlates previous microelectronic fabrication loadings and cycle times within the microelectronic fabrication facility. The correlating constant may then be employed for approximating a cycle time for a future work in process (WIP) quantity of the microelectronic fabrication within the microelectronic fabrication facility.