Patent ID: 8560106

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a server comprising a support equipment performance subsystem and a processing device, equipment data from a plurality of different types of third party support equipment during operation of the plurality of different types of third party support equipment in a manufacturing environment, wherein the equipment data is received via a first port on the plurality of different types of third party support equipment and the plurality of different types of third party support equipment communicates with a respective process tool via a second port on the plurality of different types of third party support equipment; receiving, by the server, configuration data comprising a format for receiving the equipment data from the plurality of different types of third party support equipment with the format of each third party support equipment being associated with a respective third party manufacturer; determining, by the server, a future state of each of the plurality of different types of third party support equipment that are manufactured by different third parties based on the equipment data; wherein the server is removable from the manufacturing environment without affecting performance of the manufacturing environment and failure of a third party support equipment affects performance of the respective process tool in the manufacturing environment, wherein a process tool manufactures devices and a respective third party support equipment supports the process tool.