Finite Capacity Planning for Multiple TFT-LCD Color Filter Fabs

Abstract

A Finite Capacity Planning Policy (FCPP) is developed for multiple color filter (CF) fabs where each fab has several identical production lines. FCPP assigns customer orders to multiple fabs and multiple lines by taking into account each fab’s available capacity and Work-In-Process (WIP) level, as well as each order’s batch size, product type, process routing, and processing time. After all orders are assigned to fabs and lines, order release time and finish time are determined by the implementation of several modules. FCPP is developed in Microsoft Visual Basic for Application (VBA), and an AutoMod simulation model is also developed. A company with two CF fabs and two lines at each fab is treated as a case study, and industrial data from these fabs are collected and used to evaluate the performance of FCPP based on the design of experiments. Preliminary simulation results show that FCPP can effectively and efficiently balance the loading between fabs and also balance the loading between lines in each fab.