Dynamically adjusting the distribution for dispatching lot between current and downstream tool by using expertise weighting mechanism

A system for dispatching of at least one product lot for processing to a plurality of pieces of manufacturing equipment arranged in groups within processing stages of a manufacturing line, said system comprising:

• a lot dispatcher in communication with an order entry system to receive requests for fabrication of a product lot, in communication with a process information system to receive procedures defining which pieces of manufacturing equipment are required for said fabrication of said product lot, and in communication with a manufacturing information system to dynamically receive a status of said fabrication of said product lot, a criticality factor for each piece of manufacturing equipment, and a queue level for each piece of manufacturing equipment that follows a current group of pieces of manufacturing equipment required for said product lot;
• and
• a priority factor calculator in communication with said lot dispatcher to receive a listing of said defined pieces of manufacturing equipment required for said fabrication of said product lot, said criticality factor, and said queue level, for determining a priority factor for said product lot such that each group of pieces of manufacturing equipment following said current group of pieces of manufacturing equipment has a balanced loading and said product lot is processed at an expeditious time for on-time delivery;
• wherein:
• if groups of first following pieces of manufacturing equipment have a criticality factor of a first level, said priority factor has a first priority level, and
• if groups of first following pieces of manufacturing equipment are of a first type and if groups of second following pieces of manufacturing equipment are of a second type, said priority factor has a second priority level;
• and
• wherein:
• said priority factor calculator determines said second priority level by the formula:
• KF_
• ⁢
• 2
• =
• WIP_cd
• +
• INPR_cd
• +
• WIP_d
• TOOL
• ⁢
• #
• ⁢
• _d
• *
• PPH_d
• *
• EFF_d
• where:
• KF—2 is said second priority level for a product lot entering a current group of pieces of manufacturing equipment
• WIP_cd is a number of items within all product lots in queue for the group of first following pieces of manufacturing equipment and the group of second following pieces of manufacturing equipment,
• INPR_cd is a number of items within all product lots in queue for the group of first following pieces of manufacturing equipment which are to proceed subsequently to the group of second following pieces of manufacturing equipment,
• WIP_d is a number of items within all product lots in queue for the group of second following pieces of manufacturing equipment,
• TOOL#_d is number of pieces of equipment within a group of the second following pieces of manufacturing equipment;
• PPH_d is an average number of items of product capable of being manufactured by said group of the second following pieces of manufacturing equipment,
• EFF_d is an efficiency factor for said group of the second following pieces of manufacturing equipment.