Patent ID: 7304001

Claim:
A method of fabricating a sequence of photomasks, each constructed to perform a different exposure step in manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, in a photomask fabrication department, a process start request of the photomasks from a semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department via a communication line; (b) receiving, in said photomask fabrication department, fabrication schedule information up to delivery from the process start request of the photomasks from said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department via said communication line; (c) fabricating, in said photomask fabrication department, only one of each photomask of said sequence of photomasks depending on said process start request and said fabrication schedule information; (d) providing periodically, from said photomask fabrication department, photomask fabrication progress information to said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department via said communication line; (e) adjusting, in said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department, fabrication of said sequence of photomasks based on said photomask fabrication progress information, said adjusting including identification of at least one specific photomask of said sequence of photomasks by said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department and changing a fabrication schedule of said at least one specific photomask identified by said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department; and (f) delivering said sequence of photomasks fabricated in said photomask fabrication department to said semiconductor integrated circuit device fabrication department.