Scheduling a hybrid MTO/MTS semiconductor fab with machine-dedication features

A semiconductor foundry is essentially a make-to-order (MTO) factory. Yet, in a low-demand season, it may enter into a hybrid business model-producing make-to-stock (MTS) as well as MTO products to maintain high utilization of machines. This research proposes a scheduling method for such a hybrid MTO/MTS system with machine-dedication characteristics, a constraint imposed on the process route caused by the advance of manufacturing technology. The scheduling method aims to achieve a high on-time delivery rate for MTO products as well as a high throughput for MTS products. Simulation experiments show that the proposed scheduling method outperforms representative methods in the literature.