Prediction based optimization of a semiconductor supply chain using an adaptive real time work-in-progress tracking system

US7218980B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• eSilicon Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael Orshansky · Austin, US
• Klaus Hagen · Sulingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 2001
• Grant date: May 15, 2007
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/087
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A work-in-progress (WIP) tracking system is used to coordinate a semiconductor supply chain operation. The WIP tracking system receives WIP updates from semiconductor supply chain vendors and generates a WIP tracking report in which the volume of WIP is measured in expected good parts. In one variation, rather than reporting the WIP currently located at each step of a vendor's process, the WIP tracking report reflects the WIP located at various stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process, where the vendor's steps are mapped to a fewer number of stages.