This paper proposes a novel global scheduling approach for cycle time control strategy in large complex manufacturing systems with multiple workcentres, such as semiconductor manufacturing systems. The interaction between workcentres is taken into account by using global information such as release quantities, the Work-In-Process (WIP), cycle time targets and machine capacities. Local scheduling decisions in workcentres are steered by production targets, i.e. quantities of products to complete in each operation and each period on a scheduling horizon. These global production targets are determined by a mathematical model (global scheduling model), which optimises the satisfaction of cycle time targets. One of the major innovations of the proposed model is that it relies on the temporal trace of the WIP. The mathematical model is coupled with a generic multi-method simulation model for evaluation purpose. Computational experiments conducted on industrial data show that our global scheduling approach efficiently controls the cycle times of products.