Simulation-based wip management versus scheduling for semiconductor manufacturing - a comparison

Semiconductor wafer fabrication is one of the most challenging manufacturing environments around because of its complexity and large number of production steps involved as well as its capital intensity and the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry. This paper explains why – as opposed to a scheduling paradigm – simulation-based WIP management in conjunction with real-time dispatching is the more appropriate future approach for operations management in a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility.