A global scheduling approach for cycle time control in complex manufacturing systems

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel global scheduling approach for cycle time control strategy in large complex manufacturing systems with multiple workcentres, such as semiconductor manufacturing systems. The interaction between workcentres is taken into account by using global information such as release quantities, the Work-In-Process (WIP), cycle time targets and machine capacities. Local scheduling decisions in workcentres are steered by production targets, i.e. quantities of products to complete in each operation and each period on a scheduling horizon. These global production targets are determined by a mathematical model (global scheduling model), which optimises the satisfaction of cycle time targets. One of the major innovations of the proposed model is that it relies on the temporal trace of the WIP. The mathematical model is coupled with a generic multi-method simulation model for evaluation purpose. Computational experiments conducted on industrial data show that our global scheduling approach efficiently controls the cycle times of products.

Keywords:

• Global scheduling
• linear programming
• cycle time control
• semiconductor manufacturing
• simulation
• production targets

Acknowledgments

This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and Germany, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Turkey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data used in this article is industrial data currently used in inc's manufacturing system. Due to the confidentiality of this data, it will not be shared publicly.

Additional information

Funding

This project has received funding from the Electronic Component Systems for European Leadership Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 737459 (project Productive4.0). This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and Germany, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Turkey.

Notes on contributors

Félicien Barhebwa-Mushamuka

Félicien Barhebwa-Mushamuka is an R&D engineer and technical project manager in the Department of Automation, Production and Computer Sciences at IMT Atlantique, France. In addition to his M.S. in Computer Science and a year of intensive Operational Research courses at ENSTA ParisTech, Paris, France 2016, he obtained another M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operational Research at Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France, 2017 and the Ph.D. in 2020 at the same school in its Gardanne site, France. His research interests include Consistency between Global and Local Objectives at operational decision level, Work-In-Process management, hybrid simulation and optimization modeling methodologies. He is also interested in Requirements Engineering and project management.

Stéphane Dauzère-Pérès

Stéphane Dauzère-Pérès is Professor at the Center of Microelectronics in Provence (CMP) of Mines Saint-Etienne in France and Adjunct Professor at BI Norwegian Business School in Norway. He received the PhD degree from the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France, in 1992; and the H.D.R. from the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France, in 1998. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, in 1992 and 1993, and Research Scientist at Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in 1994. He has been Associate Professor and Professor from 1994 to 2004 at the Ecole des Mines de Nantes in France. His research interests broadly include modeling and optimization of operations at various decision levels (from real-time to strategic) in manufacturing and logistics, with a special emphasis on semiconductor manufacturing.

Claude Yugma

Claude Yugma is professor in the Department of Manufacturing Sciences and Logistics at the Provence Microelectronics Center of the Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne. He received the Ph.D. degree from the Institut National Polytechnique of Grenoble, France, in 2003 and the H.D.R. from Jean Monnet University of Saint- Etienne; He was a Postdoctoral student at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Génie Industriel, Grenoble, from 2003 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2006 at the Provence Microelectronics Center. His research interests include modeling and optimization of operations in manufacturing and logistics with a special attention to semiconductor environment: scheduling and workforce problems. His email address is [email protected].