Semiconductor Production Planning

Robert C. Leachman

ABSTRACT

The planning of semiconductor manufacturing presents formidable challenges for the successful application of mathematical optimization. Formulation techniques are described that precisely model noninteger flow times, time-phased capacity consumption by reentrant process flows, proper horizon behavior, multiple priority classes of demands and multiple objectives, binning and substitution in product structures, and arbitrary distributions of initial work in process. We also formulate exact capacity analyses of nonhomogeneous resources, machine arrangement constraints, and alternative combinations of resources necessary to execute manufacturing operations. Brief histories are provided of key modeling contributions and of optimization applications to production planning in the industry.