Tom Bednarz

Silicon Semiconductor Technical Editor Mark Andrews spoke with Tom Bednarz to learn how Critical Manufacturing redefines semiconductor MES.

In processes where total FAB cycle time is 130 days but should be 80 days there is something wrong. The reason may be underutilization of process equipment, or other underlying challenges optimizing capacity. A modern MES platform helps reduce wait times across fabs. An MES can shorten cycle times without compromising the number of wafers started per day.

When a send-ahead wafer is executed through the same MES which is responsible for the overall process execution, all the delays and lack of traceability disappear.

For any R&D lab, the priorities might differ, but the need to graduate from old, cumbersome and outdated systems is the same. Whether you are a semiconductor R&D facility or a high volume manufacturer, choose an MES that offers system scalability, data visibility, and advanced functionality.

Predictive Maintenance becomes a strategic initiative in a highly complex, automated semiconductor fab. Predictive Maintenance equips process owners and maintenance personnel to proactively detect equipment-related issues before there is a breakdown, allowing owners to eke out the last bit of performance. Production and schedule adherence are protected, and unplanned stoppages avoided. 

A truly Industry 4.0-enabled semiconductor fab needs more than a MES. It needs an IoT data platform, which encompasses the core MES functionality, but has the capability to unleash the potential of IoT through enhanced data storage and manipulation capabilities.