Petri-net and GA-based approach to modeling, scheduling, and performance evaluation for wafer fabrication

In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) embedded search strategy over a colored timed Petri net (CTPN) for wafer fabrication is proposed. Through the CTPN model, all possible behaviors of the wafer manufacturing systems such as WIP status and machine status can be completely tracked down by the reachability graph of the net. The chromosome representation of the search nodes in GA is constructed directly from the CTPN model, recording the information about the appropriate scheduling policy for each workstation in the fab. A better chromosome found by GA is received by the CTPN based schedule builder, and then a near-optimal schedule is generated.