Decentralized scheduling algorithm to improve the rate of production without increasing the stocks of intermediates

In a factory with a multi-stage production system, push-type scheduling met hods can hardly improve the production rate without increasing the stocks o f intermediates. For products whose specifications are known before their o rders, a pull-type scheduling method named Kanban system has been developed , and has succeeded to improve the production rate without increasing the s tocks of intermediates. The Kanban system, however, is not applicable to cu stom-made products whose specifications are not known before their orders. In this paper, a "Virtual Kanban (VK) system" is presented as a pull-type s cheduling method which is applicable to custom-made products, and its usefu lness is demonstrated by simulation of an application specific integrated c ircuit manufacturing facility.