A tree search-based scheduling method and an electronic apparatus are provided. In the method, multiple order lists are received and a schedule is initialized, wherein each order list includes multiple production operations. In each order list, a first production operation which has not been joined into the schedule yet is selected, such that multiple prior operations are selected. An execution priority of the prior operations is calculated according to multiple dispatching rules, and multiple candidate operations are selected from the prior operations according to the execution priority. Afterwards, the candidate operations are listed as a next operation of the schedule respectively, and a scheduling simulation is performed according to the dispatching rules to obtain multiple scheduling indicators of the candidate operations. Scheduling is performed according to the scheduling indicators.

A production management method capable of deriving more optimal production numbers in which a pre-adjustment order is taken into account is provided. The production management method includes: reading a pre-adjustment order, constraints for a plurality of respective options, and a priority order of the constraints for the plurality of respective options; setting a target function of a quadratic programming problem; performing an optimization calculation of the quadratic programming problem for assigning an upper limit exceeding number in order starting from the one of the plurality of options whose priority order of the constraints is the highest; and performing, after the whole optimization calculation of the quadratic programming problem for assigning the upper limit exceeding number is completed, an optimization calculation of the quadratic programming problem for assigning the production numbers of the plurality of optional specifications, thereby determining the production numbers of the plurality of respective optional specifications.

A system includes a dispatching system and at least one processor. The dispatching system is configured to provide dispatching preferences indicating that tools feedback preferences thereof for at least one lot. The processor is coupled to the dispatching system and at least one memory. Computer program code encoded in the memory is executed by the processor to cause the system to process the lot using at least one of the tools with utilization of a tool-lot relationship that is generated based on the dispatching preferences. A non-transitory computer readable medium and a method are also disclosed herein.

A method of filling orders and order fulfillment system includes storing inventory receptacles in an automated warehouse, some having a plurality of different types of inventory items. A queue of orders is maintained in a computer system, each including at least one inventory item. Each order is selected from the queue and assigned to a pick station. The computer system retrieves inventory receptacle(s) from the automated warehouse for the selected order and supplies the receptacle(s) to the pick station. The computer system identifies to an operator which inventory item is to be segregated with the selected order in at least one put receptacle. One or more of the put receptacles receives inventory items for at least one individual order and is directed to a secondary order processing station where items are separated into individual orders. The operator may be provided the capability to consolidate inventory items from inventory receptacles while picking orders to consolidate partially filled inventory receptacles in a consolidated inventory receptacle.

Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for executing a block-based workflow to provide a schedule for a semiconductor manufacturing environment. The block-based workflow includes a plurality of blocks and each block specifies a set of operations to be performed upon execution of each block. One embodiment includes extracting scheduling data from the semiconductor manufacturing environment, determining an allocation of the number of lots to one or more devices operating in the semiconductor manufacturing environment, determining an order in which the lots should be processed by the one or more devices and publishing results of the allocation and processing order to at least one another device in the semiconductor manufacturing environment, based on the plurality of blocks in the block-based workflow.

A tree search-based scheduling method and an electronic apparatus are provided. In the method, multiple order lists are received and a schedule is initialized, wherein each order list includes multiple production operations. In each order list, a first production operation which has not been joined into the schedule yet is selected, such that multiple prior operations are selected. An execution priority of the prior operations is calculated according to multiple dispatching rules, and multiple candidate operations are selected from the prior operations according to the execution priority. Afterwards, the candidate operations are listed as a next operation of the schedule respectively, and a scheduling simulation is performed according to the dispatching rules to obtain multiple scheduling indicators of the candidate operations. Scheduling is performed according to the scheduling indicators.

A method is disclosed and includes generating a tool-lot relationship based on at least one process constraint and a dispatching rule which includes dispatching preferences for operating at least one lot; assigning the at least one lot to at least one tool by using the tool-lot relationship; and the at least one tool, assigned using the tool-lot relationship, processing the at least one lot by utilization of the tool-lot relationship to manufacture semiconductor devices on at least one wafer in the at least one lot.

A method is disclosed and includes determining whether there is any WIP information with one or more process constraints in a process constraint database that is coupled with a manufacturing execution system; determining whether there is a dispatching rule in the dispatching rule database that is coupled with a dispatching system; generating a tool-lot relationship based on at least one of the process constraints and the dispatching rule; utilizing the tool-lot relationship to assign one or more lots to one or more tools respectively.

A control system may perform functions including (i) storing data indicating an association between an optical identifier and a first robot, (ii) sending, to the first robot, data encoding the optical identifier for display by the first robot, and (iii) after sending the data encoding the optical identifier, sending, to a second robot, the data indicating the association between the optical identifier and the first robot. In some examples, the first robot may receive, from the control system, data encoding a second optical identifier of the first robot so that the first robot may display the second optical identifier instead of the first optical identifier. In some examples, a first robot may capture an image of an indication of a priority status of a second robot and perform an action based on comparing a first priority status of the first robot to the second priority status of the second robot.

A method of filling orders and order fulfillment system includes storing inventory receptacles in an automated warehouse, some having a plurality of different types of inventory items. A queue of orders is maintained in a computer system, each including at least one inventory item. Each order is selected from the queue and assigned to a pick station. The computer system retrieves inventory receptacle(s) from the automated warehouse for the selected order and supplies the receptacle(s) to the pick station. The computer system identifies to an operator which inventory item is to be segregated with the selected order in at least one put receptacle. One or more of the put receptacles receives inventory items for at least one individual order and is directed to a secondary order processing station where items are separated into individual orders. The operator may be provided the capability to consolidate inventory items from inventory receptacles while picking orders to consolidate partially filled inventory receptacles in a consolidated inventory receptacle.