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The Sort-Assemble-Blend Routing Problem and Its Application to Semiconductors

Author

Listed:
  • A. Nicholas Mason

    (Intel Corporation, Chandler, Arizona 85226)

  • Rachel A. Rosenberg

    (Intel Corporation, Chandler, Arizona 85226)

  • Evan A. Rash

    (Intel Corporation, Chandler, Arizona 85226)

  • Karl G. Kempf

    (Intel Corporation, Chandler, Arizona 85226)

Abstract

Recent technological advances in the semiconductor industry have rapidly changed how products are designed and manufactured. Large “monolithic” designs, which integrate multiple functionalities in a single printed die, are being replaced with multidie products. To ensure the success of this transformation, it is critical to sort materials into categories and strategically build assemblies with maximum compatibility in mind. This enables manufacturing to be optimized to fulfill specific requirements for final products. However, it also means that more individual components must be managed, and decisions on how to assemble them must be made holistically. This creates a complex, nonlinear problem that combines qualities of both selective assembly and assembly routing problems. The result is named the sort-assemble-blend routing problem (SABR-P). Its solution approach is formulated using techniques including genetic algorithms, Monte Carlo simulations, linear programming, and machine learning. This framework has been successfully applied in practice, saving Intel Corporation more than $500 million thus far. It is the new standard for analyzing and optimizing Intel’s multidie products for the foreseeable future.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Nicholas Mason & Rachel A. Rosenberg & Evan A. Rash & Karl G. Kempf, 2024. "The Sort-Assemble-Blend Routing Problem and Its Application to Semiconductors," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 54(5), pages 404-416, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:54:y:2024:i:5:p:404-416
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2024.0114
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthias Tan & C. Wu, 2012. "Generalized selective assembly," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(1), pages 27-42.
    2. Fabozzi, Frank J. (ed.), 2016. "The Handbook of Mortgage-Backed Securities, 7th Edition," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 7, number 9780198785774.
    3. Masoud Chitsaz & Jean-François Cordeau & Raf Jans, 2019. "A Unified Decomposition Matheuristic for Assembly, Production, and Inventory Routing," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 31(1), pages 134-152, February.
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