Abstract:
A method and system for manufacturing a supply chain collaboration is disclosed, the method and system comprising at least one customer including a first collaboration platform and at least one manufacturing partner (vendor) including a second collaboration platform. All CMS applications allow for peer-peer collaboration therebetween. A system and method in accordance with the present invention utilizes peer-to-peer technology to securely and reliably transfer the data between the companies and promotes a “push” mechanism where information is shared as soon as it becomes available.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a manufacturing process for semiconductors and more particularly to a system and method for efficiently manufacturing such devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the past few years, with the advent of Internet technology, serious software applications have emerged which intend to harness the power of a “connected” society to improve productivity. Most companies today advertise their services via the web and the more advanced companies provide useful operational data on their websites. This has at a minimum improved the customer service aspects of the business by providing information needed by the customers to make better decisions, faster.  
           [0003]    The goal is to enable companies who typically operate as semiconductor subcontractors during the manufacturing lifecycle to operate as a “virtual company”. There is important information that can be shared between these companies to optimize the supply chain and increase the efficiency of the production cycle. Because each company operates independently and has its own information systems, valuable data typically does not flow efficiently to the customers. This increases latency and delays response from the customer, causing potential delays in time to market.  
           [0004]    There are several layers of technology when it comes to exchanging information. Technologies are available at the network level, infrastructure level and application level. It is desired to be able to efficiently tie these technologies together to optimize the time to market for a particular product.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method, which overcomes the above-identified problem. The present invention addresses such a need.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A method and system for manufacturing a supply chain collaboration is disclosed, the method and system comprising at least one customer including a first collaboration application and at least one collaboration partner including a second collaboration application. The system can also include more collaboration partners which can include a third or more collaboration applications. Each connected application allows for peer-peer collaboration therebetween. A system and method in accordance with the present invention utilizes peer-to-peer technology to securely and reliably transfer the data between the companies and promotes a “push” mechanism where information is shared as soon as it becomes available. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 illustrates a collaborative menu server (CMS) system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 illustrates managing a project.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 describes the access request approval process.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 illustrates maintaining purchase orders.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 illustrates technical document sharing in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 illustrates the process for viewing work in progress (WIP) data.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 illustrates providing reports using the CMS system.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 illustrates issue tracking in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    The present invention relates generally to a manufacturing process for semiconductors and more particularly to a system and method for efficiently manufacturing such devices. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0016]    Collaborative Manufacturing Server (CMS) system is a web based collaborative commerce suite, which allows different technologies to exchange information in an efficient manner. A centralized and web-based project server engine allows customers to manage projects on-line under a multi-user and personalized environment. The process of locating and acquiring required services is seamlessly streamlined through the use of an integrated CMS system. Customers can use a single browser window to locate service vendors, design document sets, and other information, including standard service cycle times. During the execution of the project, status updates are automatically sent to the customers. Other important documents related to the quality of the production are also automatically sent. Upon the completion of a project design cycle, the CMS system automatically delivers the manufacturing orders through a CMS system, which automates the customers&#39; procurement tasks. A peer-to-peer technology is utilized to ensure that the sensitive data remains with concerned parties and not sent through a centralized hub mechanism.  
         [0017]    The CMS system is a distributed application unlike other collaboration tools. A server resides inside the firewall of each collaboration participant and communication occurs directly between the participants.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a collaborative manufacturing server (CMS) system  100  in accordance with the present invention. In such a system, a customer provides information to and receives information from a plurality of partners. The customers and manufacturing partners each have their own CMS application  102 ,  104  and  106  respectively which allows for peer to peer collaboration therebetween.  
         [0019]    The supplier and customer platforms  102  and  104  provide information to and receive information from their respective back office applications  103  and  105  using, for example, a Semicon Collaboration Platform which is provided with CMS. The CMS system provides the following features:  
         [0020]    1. Project Management  
         [0021]    Customers create a project for every integrated circuit that needs to be manufactured. Each project is a schedule of manufacturing tasks that need to be completed for the entire production cycle. Different partners perform these tasks. All the tasks are part of a single project regardless of which partner completes the tasks. When tasks are in progress, a status update is automatically shown to the customer via the peer to peer technology. Users can share the project information by adding other users to the project. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 illustrates managing a project. The other systems have their own manufacturing plan, demand forecasts and prototype development. These are inputs to a purchase requisition, via steps  202 ,  204  and  206 . Purchase orders are then provided based on the purchase requisition, via step  208  and  210  Thereafter the purchase order is approved in the financial system. The approved purchase order number and other summary information is imported into CMS. Thereafter, a vendor access is requested within the CMS system, via step  214 . Then the access request is approved, via step  214 . After the access request is approved, then vendor services are selected, via step  216 . Finally, from that selection of vendor services a schedule is created via document sharing, via steps  220  and  222 . Thereafter, it is determined if there is scheduled confirmation,  224 . If it is a frozen project or the project, via step  22 , is completed, then the process is ended. However, if it is not frozen then the schedule creation step  220  is revisited.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 describes the access request approval process. First, the access request is provided, via step  302 . First, it is determined if the permission is granted for the request for the person, via step  304 . If it is granted, then the permission for the person is changed, via step  308  If it is not granted, it is determined if there is a permission to schedule via step  306 . If there is no permission to schedule after step  308 , then end. If, on the other hand, there is a permission for schedule, change the permission for the vendor schedule, via step  310 .  
         [0024]    2. Purchase Order Maintenance  
         [0025]    CMS imports the P.O data from the customer&#39;s financial system. There are two ways it can import the data. PO can be imported via a text file. Or it can be imported via an automated connection to the financial system. Summary purchase order information is captured and maintained in CMS. This purchase order information is automatically transferred to the service providers where it can import into the service provider&#39;s financial systems. All project data will be associated with the PO number for tracking purposes. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 illustrates maintaining purchase orders. The other systems have their own manufacturing plan  401 , demand forecasts  403  and prototype development  404 . These are inputs to a purchase requisition via step  402 . Purchase orders are then provided based on the purchase requisition via step  404 . Thereafter, the approved purchase order is imported into the CMS application via step  406 .  
         [0027]    3. Document Sharing  
         [0028]    Customers and service providers share a number of technical documents. CMS allows the documents to be easily sent from the service providers to the customers. Revisions of the documents are automatically saved and updated on the customer&#39;s site. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates document sharing in accordance with the present invention. First, the service document change request is provided, via step  502 . It is first determined if a new directory is required, via step  504 . If a new directory is required, then a new directory is created, via step  506 . If none is required, or after step  506 , then it is determined if a new file needs to be created, via step  508 . If the answer is yes, then the new file is created, via step  510 . If the answer is no, or after step  510 , it is determined if a document must be imported, via step  512 . If the answer is yes, then a file is imported, via step  514 . If the answer is no, or after step  514 , then it is determined if a document needs to be exported, via step  516 . If the answer is yes, the file is exported, via step  518 . If the answer is no, or after step  518  then it is determined if the link document is required, via step  520 . If the answer to that is no, then end. If the answer is yes, then the document is linked to the service, via step  522 .  
         [0030]    4. WIP Data  
         [0031]    One of the most important requirements from customers is the ability to view Work-In-Progress (WIP) data from the service provider&#39;s systems. Each service provider maintains the WIP data in their own formats. CMS allows easy connectivity to the service providers&#39; WIP information system and the ability to transport the data to the customer&#39;s CMS application. Customers can view the WIP data in near real time (as soon as it becomes available) and in their own environment—they don&#39;t need to go to another website to view the information. This also gives them the ability to track planned vs. actual WIP information. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 illustrates the process for viewing work in progress (WIP) data. First, the WIP result is provided via step  602 . Then the WIP file is imported, via step  604 . Then there is an inquiry into the WIP result, via step  606 . It is then determined if there are more files via step  608 . If there are more files, then the above-identified steps  604 - 608  are repeated. If there are no more files, then the process is ended.  
         [0033]    5. Generating Reports  
         [0034]    CMS provides a customizable report generation tool. Customers and other partners in the “supply chain” want to view reporting information as soon as it becomes available. CMS provides the ability for the reports to be generated automatically from the data sent by the service providers to the customers. Customers can decide which other service providers to share this information. Improved availability of information increases the response time to solve potential problems, thereby increasing the time to market. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 illustrates providing reports using the CMS system. First, a new report request is provided, via step  702 . Next, it is determined if a template exists, via step  704 . If a template does not exist, then a new template is created, via step  706 . If, on the other hand, a template does exist, or after the creation of the new template, inquiry is made about the template, via step  708 . After the template is provided, then a report is generated via step  710  and then it is determined if another report needs to be generated, via step  712 . If the answer is yes, then repeat the above-identified steps  704  -  712 . If the answer is no, then the process is ended.  
         [0036]    6. Issue Tracking  
         [0037]    Very often issues arise during the production cycle and resolving the issue is not just the responsibility of one partner. It is a collaborative effort. Today, this is done using phone and fax. Using the on-line, near real-time Issue Tracking System in CMS, all partners can work to resolve the issues. Responses, including file attachments are automatically sent to all partners involved such that all partners can view the latest information available to help resolve the problems. This significantly reduces the time it takes to resolve potential problems thereby shortening the production time. To describe this feature refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 8 illustrates issue tracking in accordance with the present invention. First an issue is provided, via step  802 . Next, the issue is raised, via step  804 . Next, the user studies issue, via step  806 . A solution to the issue is then provided, via step  808 . Next, it is determined if there are any open issues, via step  810 . If there is an open issue, then the steps  806  and  808  are repeated. If there is no open issues, then the process is ended.  
         [0039]    7. Advantages  
         [0040]    A system and method in accordance with the present invention has many advantages. It improves manufacturing outsourcing processes for the semiconductor industry. It provides the ability to send WIP data in a “push” mechanism from the service providers to the customers using the above mentioned technologies. It provides the ability to send chip manufacturing schedule and process to all the outsourced vendors using the technologies mentioned above. It provides the ability to get lot status and progress throughout the semiconductor production lifecycle in near real-time using the above mentioned technologies.  
         [0041]    It provides the ability of service providers to send engineering &amp; other documents, with revisions, to the customers in an automated fashion using the above mentioned technologies.  
         [0042]    It provides the ability of customers to send documents to the service providers with the project schedule using the above mentioned technologies. It provides the ability to manage issue resolution in a collaborative environment, using the peer-to-peer concept, above-mentioned technologies, specifically for semiconductor outsourcing process.  
         [0043]    It provides the ability to send Wafer Maps, WAT reports, Yield information, etc. from the service providers to the customers in a collaborative concept described above using the technologies mentioned. It provides the application of peer-to-peer technology to improve collaboration for semiconductor outsourcing processes. Finally, it provides the application of java, technology, distributed application architecture, collaborative communication platform to improve collaboration for semiconductor outsourcing processes.  
         [0044]    [0044] 8 . Conclusion  
         [0045]    A centralized and web-based project server engine allows customers to manage projects on-line under a multi-user and personalized environment. The process of locating and acquiring required services is seamlessly streamlined through the use of an integrated CMS system. Customers can use a single browser window to locate service vendors, design document sets, and other information, including standard service cycle times. During the execution of the project, status updates are automatically sent to the customers. Other important documents related to the quality of the production are also automatically sent. Upon the completion of a project design cycle, the CMS system automatically delivers the manufacturing orders through a CMS system, which automates the customers&#39; procurement tasks. A peer-to-peer technology is utilized to ensure that the sensitive data remains with concerned parties and not sent through a centralized hub mechanism.  
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.