Patent ID: 7047095

Claim:
A process control system that controls processing executed on workpieces by, at least, one processing apparatus installed in each area in a factory, the processing results of which are predictable, comprising: at least one measuring apparatus that is installed for the corresponding area, executes a measuring operation on workpieces processed in the area, and includes a means for self-diagnosis that executes a diagnosis to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred in said measuring apparatus; a transfer apparatus provided for the corresponding area to transfer the workpieces among apparatuses which include said processing apparatus and said measuring apparatus in the area; and a control device installed for the corresponding area to control said processing apparatus, said measuring apparatus and said transfer apparatus in the area, wherein said control device sets a processing condition for said processing apparatus based upon the results of a measuring operation executed by said measuring apparatus on workpieces processed by said processing apparatus, engages said transfer apparatus to transfer the workpiece at least having undergone the processing executed by said processing apparatus to said measuring apparatus, compares a measurement value indicating the results of the processing executed on the workpiece, which is obtained through a measuring operation executed by said measuring apparatus on the workpiece at least having undergone the processing, with a target value for the processing results, engages said means for self-diagnosis at said measuring apparatus to execute a self-diagnosis if an error in the measurement value indicating the processing results relative to the target value is judged to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and resets the processing condition for said processing apparatus in correspondence to the error in the measurement value relative to the target value if the error is judged to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value, only if said measuring apparatus is determined to be error-free based upon the results of the self-diagnosis.