Simulation-based production control in the semiconductor industry

The article deals with the development of simulation models for the semiconductor industry at the Technical University of Ilmenau. Hereby, the main focus is set on the development of methods and procedures for the solution of the order sequencing problem. For this purpose the specific production conditions in a semiconductor factory have been analyzed. It was necessary to deduct various methods to represent all of these specific production conditions in one simulation model. Additionally to local methods the suggested solution integrates interaction and coordination methods as global oriented mechanisms into the problem solving concept. As a result there is a simulation model available now. This simulation model supports the order sequencing on a coarse and fine level. Within the scope of the coarse sequencing, a forecast of the due dates of production orders is supported. By way of contrast, the fine sequencing has to determine an efficient order sequencing in relation to the actual production situation and the given objectives.