Closed-loop job release control for VLSI circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A closed-loop job release mechanism for job shops where the main source of randomness is due to machine failure and repair is introduced. The release policy adapts concepts of the reorder-point method of inventory control to the context of job-shop scheduling. The control mechanism, called starvation avoidance, is compared empirically with other input control mechanisms on several semiconductor wafer manufacturing job shops with favorable results.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>