Patent ID: 8670857

Claim:
A computer implemented method for monitoring process conditions, the method sequentially consisting essentially of: selecting a first acceptable deviation range of parameters for processing conditions in a first processing step; after selecting a first acceptable deviation range, then selecting a second acceptable deviation range of parameters for the processing conditions in a second processing step separate from the first processing step, wherein the second acceptable deviation range is different than the first acceptable deviation range; after selecting a second acceptable deviation range, then receiving into a processor a first set of data indicative of the actual value of the process condition for the first processing step; after receiving into the processor the first set of data, then receiving into the processor a second set of data indicative of the actual value of the process condition for the second processing step; after receiving into the processor the second set of data, then analyzing the first data set and the second data set with the processor to determine whether the first data set and/or the second data set are outside the respective first acceptable deviation range or the second acceptable deviation range; and after analyzing the first data set and the second data set, then indicating the first set of data and/or the second set of data are outside the corresponding first acceptable range or the second acceptable range.