This article will discuss the three differentiators of semiconductor fabrication and describe three select analytical approaches—variance curves, saturation curves, and empirical bottleneck identification—that can provide fab leaders significant insight into their operations, enabling them to optimize their manufacturing processes regardless of where they sit on the spectrum between cost optimization and throughput improvement.
Semiconductor fabrication is one of the most complex and sophisticated processes in manufacturing. Semiconductor manufacturing stands out for its unique demands that require precision down to the nanometer, atomic ordering, and high chemical purity. Accomplishing this technical feat on the scale of thousands of wafers daily adds to its impressive and daunting nature.
Three differentiators make manufacturing semiconductors at scale exceptionally challenging.
Semiconductor manufacturing is iterative. As the wafer moves along each stage of the manufacturing process, it revisits the same piece of equipment multiple times. This iterative process means that any disruption at any one piece of equipment will result in consequences at multiple steps of the manufacturing process.