Patent ID: 8234001
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method of analyzing production steps to enhance a production process, the method comprising: inputting application data associated with at least one production process having a plurality of process steps into a memory portion of a computer, each of the plurality of process steps including a plurality of tools; loading process data associated with at least one of the plurality of process steps into the memory portion; performing a tool commonality analysis on each of the plurality of tools associated with the at least one of the plurality of process steps; identifying all tool-to-tool differences for the at least one of the plurality of process steps; performing a tool stratification analysis to identify at least one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps; and stopping the at least one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps.