Industrial engineers chip in
to make IC fabs more productive
With demand for semiconductors on the rise, IC manufacturers are being
pressured to expand their capacities. At the same time, the marketplace demands
that production costs be kept as low as possible.
To help address these needs, Tefen USA, an industrial engineering consulting
firm based in Foster City, CA, has introduced a production management tool that
it claims can boost fab productivity by as much as 15%. Called Staffware, the
software determines the number of technicians and operators needed for optimum
equipment performance.
The software recommends staffing levels for both production-rampup and
steady-state situations. The result is a reduction in waiting time for
production staff as non-value-added activities and bottlenecks are eliminated.
Included in the software are analysis functions for critical parameters such as
wafer starts, tool numbers, and lot size. In addition, there are models for
both operator and technician staffing, which may be implemented separately or
together. The models are in a hierarchy design concept that starts at the
tool level and then progresses to center and cluster, area, and facility
levels. For more information about Staffware, contact Eli Pelleg at
415-577-8094 or .
–David Morrison
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