|
|
Process Transaction System for Wafer Manufacturing in Clean Rooms
Location: Taiwan
| | |
|
All wafer fabrication plants have clean rooms. Desktop or notebook computers are initially used to control and monitor the production flow. Previously ASMI, one of the largest DRAM manufacturers in the Hsinchu Science Industrial Park in Taiwan, used desktop and notebook computers to control the operating procedure, production and process transaction systems for wafer manufacturing in the clean room. The utilization of space was inefficient because the computers occupied a tremendous amount of volume and were inconvenient to move.
| |
|
 ASMI adopted the PPC-102T to the process transaction system for wafer manufacturing, to the instruction retrieval system of testing machines, and to the process parameter input system in the clean room of 8" fab. It functioned as the human-machine interface in the wafer production process. By using a bar code reader, the operator recorded each transaction. Consequently, the system automatically gave instructions on the following production process. Through the PPC-102T's touch screen, the operator could access instructions for operating the test machines properly and make sure the production went through normal procedures.
| |
|
The architecture of the process transaction system can be divided into three levels. The managerial level includes a server for data processing, task- and resource sharing. The human-machine interface level (PPC-102T) is for system monitoring, data input and information output. Finally, data input devices such as touch screens, bar-code readers and sensors are used at the front-execution level.
| |
|
The electronic industry faces strong competition, both here in Taiwan and worldwide. The only way for enterprises to be successful in the semiconductor industry is to obtain high production technology, so that profits can grow and production costs can be reduced. ASMI saved a lot of space and cut costs down on products and manufacturing after using the PPC-102T. The saved space is now used to accommodate more manufacturing and testing equipment, which enhances production and profit. To be more precise:
1. The PPC-102T saved 70% of the space on average.
2. It is very flexible in space allocation: The PPC-102T can be installed in several ways: it can be wall-mounted, panel- mounted or installed on a swing arm. This enables PPC-102T units to meet tough space requirements.
3. High stability: The PPC-102T is a high quality industrial-grade computer. It has already been proven more stable than desktop and notebook computers.
4. Touch screen is optional: It can be installed on the PPC-102T to replace the traditional mouse, so that it's more convenient for operators.
5. High brightness LCD: The TFT screen is of industrial quality, which is better than that of notebook computers.
6. Long LCD lifetime: The average lifetime of the PPC-102T is 25,000 hours, which is 2.5 times that of usual notebook computers (10,000 hours). For example, if the daily operating time is 10 hours, the PPC-102T can operate for 6.9 years (25000 Hrs/10Hrs/360 days), while notebook computers will only last for 2.8 years.
| |
