Patent ID: 7321805

Claim:
A system for managing the production of semiconductor devices, the system comprising: a plurality of production devices to perform production processes for fabricating semiconductor devices; a plurality of in-line measuring devices to measure at least one process parameter of each production process performed by the production devices and to output the process parameter as measured data, wherein: at least one in-line measuring device of the plurality of in-line measuring devices is associated with one of the plurality of production devices such that the in-line measuring device measures a process parameter of the process performed by the associated production device, and at least one in-line measuring device is a wafer current measuring device that: (a) irradiates holes, formed in a semiconductor wafer or disposed in a layer which is disposed on or above a semiconductor wafer, with electron beam and (b) measures a substrate current in or flowing through the wafer, wherein the substrate current is generated in response to the irradiated electron beam; and a data storage device to store: (i) data which is indicative of the production processes performed by the production devices, (ii) the measured data or data representative thereof, (iii) specifications of the production processes that are associated with the measured data, (iv) data of the start of production of the semiconductor devices, (v) data of the scheduled date on which each production process is performed by the production devices, and (vi) data of the date of completion of each production process performed by the production devices.