An integrated approach to real time dispatching rules analysis at seagate technology

The challenge of accurately modeling dispatching rules and policies is a difficult and costly exercise. Currently, the only accurate way to qualify the impact and effectiveness of policy changes is by analyzing the policy in either a test facility or in production. In a test facility it is difficult to recreate the production environment. Additionally, to test policy changes in production is risky and can be costly. From a modeling perspective, the duplication of dispatching rules for use in simulation requires time consuming efforts to recreate the dispatching policies as well as the current state of the manufacturing environment. Seagate Technology, working with Applied Materials, has deployed a framework that initializes an AutoSched AP simulation model to the current state of the facility and utilizes the APF Real Time Dispatcher® (RTD) rules in production within the simulation. This paper will present the solution, benefits, and initial results at Seagate Technology.