Multi site computer aided manufacturing with worldwide order book and intelligent scheduling system

The author describes the implementation of a computer-aided manufacturing system and the scheduling of a worldwide order book at Plessey Semiconductors´ four UK-based facilities and at the associated research facility also based in the UK. Progress in the company´s US facility and offshore assembly subcontractors is covered, and the company´s integrated-circuit operations from mask making through wafer fabrication, assembly, and test are discussed, with particular emphasis on intelligent scheduling of the wafer fabrication activities