Validating simulation model cycle times at Seagate Technology

This paper describes the validation of cycle times in a factory simulation model of a new recording head wafer manufacturing facility at Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN. The project goals were to determine which factors were causing cycle time deltas between the model and the actual factory, and to add detail to the simulation model to bring cycle times closer to reality. The study found that the most significant contributors to the cycle time delta were number of tools, number of operators, level of operator cross-training, and assumptions about rework, downtime, and equipment dedication