Patent ID: 6308107
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G05B,G06Q,H01L,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for routing objects in a computer controlled manufacturing arrangement having alternate locations for predetermined ones of a plurality of manufacturing process steps and predetermined types of objects to be routed into alternate locations, comprising the steps of:establishing a distribution of events indicative of the alternate locations at which object is processed for a manufacturing process step with respect to the objects to be routed;documenting the distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of objects to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of object to be routed;establishing an actual mix of objects to be routed to the alternate locations;comparing historical routing time with an actual routing time for the routed object;selecting one of a plurality of substates that include: pre-position routed object when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed object when the times are different and re-route object when comparison is not available; andselecting one of a plurality of alternate locations to which to route the object for the next manufacturing process step as a result of one of the substates selected.