Adaptive real-time work-in -progress tracking, prediction, and optimization system for a semiconductor supply chain
AssigneeeSilicon Corporation
InventorsKlaus ten Hagen, Michael E. Orshansky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work-in-progress (WIP) tracking system is used to coordinate a semiconductor supply chain. The WIP tracking receives WIP updates from semiconductor supply chain vendors and generates advanced notices based on an analysis of the WIP updates and predetermined rules. The advanced notices are delivered to downstream vendors to reduce semiconductor manufacturing cycle time and unpredictability between different semiconductor manufacturing phases.
Claims46
A method implemented by computer for coordinating the manufacture of a semiconductor product by a semiconductor supply chain, the semiconductor supply chain comprising a first vendor and a second vendor, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first work in progress (WIP) updates from the first vendor;
- performing a first update of a data representation of the semiconductor supply chain to reflect the first WIP update;
- generating a first advance notice for the second vendor based on the first updated data representation and a first pre-determined rule;
- and
- making the first advance notice available to the second vendor.
A method implemented by computer for coordinating the manufacture of a semiconductor product by a semiconductor supply chain, the semiconductor supply chain comprising a plurality of vendors, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving work in progress (WIP) updates from at least one upstream vendor;
- updating a data representation of the semiconductor supply chain to reflect the received WIP updates;
- generating an advance notice for a downstream vendor based on the updated data representation and a pre-determined rule;
- and
- making the advance notice available to the downstream vendor.
A WIP tracking system for coordinating the manufacture of a semiconductor product by a semiconductor supply chain, the semiconductor supply chain comprising a plurality of vendors, the WIP tracking system comprising:
- a WIP database containing a data representation of the semiconductor supply chain;
- a revision engine coupled to the WIP database for updating the WIP database to reflect WIP updates received from at least one upstream vendor;
- a rules database containing pre-determined rules for generating advance notices;
- and
- an advance notice engine coupled to the WIP database and the rules database for generating an advance notice for a downstream vendor based on the updated WIP database and a pre-determined rule.
A WIP tracking system for coordinating the manufacture of a semiconductor product by a semiconductor supply chain, the semiconductor supply chain comprising a plurality of vendors, the WIP tracking system comprising:
- means for updating a data representation of the semiconductor supply chain to reflect WIP updates received from at least one upstream vendor;
- means for generating an advance notice for a downstream vendor based on the updated data representation and a pre-determined rule;
- and
- means for making the advance notice available to the downstream vendor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.