Workload Control in Job Shops

SB17.1 Work Load Management under MRP

• Silvanus T. Enns; University of Calgary, Dept. of MME, Fac. of Eng., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4 , Canada; enns@enme.ucalgary.ca

In an MRP environment, planned lead times dictate work-in-process inventory levels while the MPS dictates throughput rates. We investigate how shop load feed back and/or queueing relationships can be used in setting planned lead times to reduce shop inventory while maintaining due date performance and throughput rates.

SB17.2 Workload Control in the Semiconductor Industry

• John W. Fowler; Arizona State University, Dept. of IE, Tempe, AZ 85287-5906; john.fowler@asu.edu
• Gary L. Hogg; Arizona State University, Chandler, AZ 85226-1236;
• Scott J. Mason; Arizona State University, 4714 E. Verbena Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85044;

We describe the state-of-the-art in workload control as applied to the semiconductor industry. The focus is on examining the concepts behind workload control heuristics and evaluating their effectiveness, overhead requirements and implementability. We provide an overview of the distinctive elements in a semiconductor manufacturing environment, general dispatching methods, order release strategies and future directions.

SB17.3 Comparing Work Load Control Theory & Industrial Practice: A Survey in Italy

• R. Cigolini; Polytechnico Milano, Milan, , Italy; roberto.cigolini@polimi.it

Our objective is to understand the reasons for the existing distance between the WLC research and the PP&C procedures used by most companies, and how this gap can be reduced. An empirical survey was carried out and interviews were conducted with 30 shop floor managers. Empirical data were collected and compared...

SB17.4 Robustness of Workload Concepts

• M. Land; University of Groningen; m.j.land@bdk.rug.nl

With the help of controlled release methods, WLCs buffer the shop floor against the dynamics of the incoming flow of jobs. This should provide a lean and stable shop floor environment. To handle a wide spectrum of dynamics, the concepts must guarantee a certain level of robustness...