multi-criteria dispatching

**Multi-criteria dispatching** is the **scheduling approach that ranks candidate lots using a weighted combination of competing objectives** - it enables balanced decisions across speed, due-date, setup, and risk constraints. **What Is Multi-criteria dispatching?** - **Definition**: Dispatch scoring method combining factors such as priority, queue age, processing time, and setup compatibility. - **Decision Structure**: Each lot receives a composite score from configured weights and normalized features. - **Objective Flexibility**: Supports simultaneous optimization of throughput, cycle time, and due-date adherence. - **Policy Customization**: Weight tuning reflects business priorities and process risk posture. **Why Multi-criteria dispatching Matters** - **Tradeoff Management**: Avoids over-optimizing one metric at the expense of others. - **Operational Adaptability**: Weights can be adjusted for changing demand and bottleneck conditions. - **Priority Transparency**: Makes dispatch rationale explicit and auditable. - **Performance Improvement**: Often outperforms single-rule heuristics in high-mix environments. - **Risk Control**: Can embed queue-time and quality-critical constraints directly in scoring. **How It Is Used in Practice** - **Feature Design**: Define reliable inputs representing urgency, efficiency, and constraint risk. - **Weight Calibration**: Tune scoring weights using simulation and historical KPI outcomes. - **Governance Review**: Reassess weights regularly to maintain alignment with production objectives. Multi-criteria dispatching is **a practical framework for balanced fab scheduling decisions** - weighted scoring enables controlled tradeoffs across competing operational goals.