Determination of transporter and transportation time considering multi-load automated material handling system

Abstract

This study develops the process to determine the transportation equipment and the transportation time to handle unload requests of a lot and the buffer's load requests in a semiconductor line where groups of similar equipment with similar functions are grouped in the bay. The transporter covered in this paper is multi-load transporter capable of transporting multiple lots, and uses information on the availability of the transporter to select transporter and transportation time, as well as using information on transportation time from the starting point to departure point, and future transportation schedule. The expected results of this study is the reduction of the average flow time of the lot, average vehicle utilization, average WIP level during operation, and maximum stocker inventory level as well as assuring the efficient use of transporters. © 2016 SERSC.