Determining batch start versus delay
First Claim
1. A method for determining whether to delay processing a batch, the method comprising:
- ascertaining a respective time at which each of a plurality of additional lots will be received into the batch, the batch including a plurality of present lots;
assessing a cost for a machine, each additional lot, and each present lot for each respective time at which each additional lot will be received should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time; and
determining the respective time at which the total cost borne by the machine, each additional lot, and each present lot will be at a minimum.
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Abstract
The invention is a technique by which a manufacturing process flow determines when to begin processing a batch of lots. The invention includes a method for determining whether to begin processing a batch in one aspect and a manufacturing process flow in a second aspect. The method comprises: ascertaining a respective time at which each of a plurality of additional lots will be received into the batch, the batch including a plurality of present lots; assessing a cost for a machine, each additional lot, and each present lot for each respective time at which each additional lot will be received should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time; and determining the respective time at which the total cost borne by the machine, each additional lot, and each present lot will be at a minimum. The manufacturing process flow comprises a processing tool that processes batch-by-batch, a batch of present lots, a plurality of additional lots that may be included in the batch, and a software agent or a computing system. The software agent/computing system is capable of performing the method set forth above.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for determining whether to delay processing a batch, the method comprising:
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ascertaining a respective time at which each of a plurality of additional lots will be received into the batch, the batch including a plurality of present lots; assessing a cost for a machine, each additional lot, and each present lot for each respective time at which each additional lot will be received should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time; and determining the respective time at which the total cost borne by the machine, each additional lot, and each present lot will be at a minimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for determining whether to begin processing a batch, the method comprising:
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ascertaining a time ti at which each of N lots Li will become available, where 1≦
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N;assessing a cost borne by a machine at each time ti should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time ti; assessing a cost borne by each of the lots Li at each time ti should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time ti; assessing a cost borne by each of a plurality of lots Lx originally in the batch at each time ti should the machine begin processing the batch at the respective time ti; and determining the time ti at which the total cost borne by the machine, by the lots Li, and by the lots Lx is least. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A manufacturing process flow, comprising:
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a processing tool that processes batch-by-batch; a batch of present lots; a plurality of additional lots that may be included in the batch; and a software agent capable of; ascertaining a respective time at which each of the additional lots may be received into the batch, the batch including a plurality of present lots; assessing a cost for the processing tool, each additional lot, and each present lot for each respective time at which each additional lot will be received should the processing tool begin processing the batch at the respective time; and determining the respective time at which the total cost borne by the processing tool, each additional lot, and each present lot will be at a minimum. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A manufacturing process flow, comprising:
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a processing tool that processes batch-by-batch; a batch of present lots; a plurality of additional lots that may be included in the batch; and a computing system including at least one computing device programmed to; ascertain a respective time at which each of the additional lots may be received into the batch, the batch including a plurality of present lots; assess a cost for the processing tool, each additional lot, and each present lot for each respective time at which each additional lot will be received should the processing tool begin processing the batch at the respective time; and determine the respective time at which the total cost borne by the processing tool, each additional lot, and each present lot will be at a minimum. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification