Performance analysis of re-entrant manufacturing networks under surplus-based production control

摘要

Motivated by the problem of planning and scheduling in large semiconductor manufacturing facilities we study the performance of re-entrant production networks. In such networks, each product has to go multiple times through the entire manufacturing line before it is ready. Each machine in a re-entrant network can receive products from different routings, but the products from only one of the routings can be served at a time. This complicated network structure makes it difficult, and at the same time important, to estimate in advance the performance of such a network under a demand-driven control policy. In this paper we present results on the influence of perturbations, buffer inventory levels and the number of manufacturing stages on the production tracking error of each machine in the re-entrant network operated under a surplus-based production control policy. The results are provided in the form of so-called 'worst case scenario' bounds on the steady-state production demand tracking accuracy of each stage as well as bounds on the content of each intermediate inventory level. By means of simulation examples we show that the results obtained have an important meaning and can be used as a practical reference tool.