Patent ID: 6842663

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; a data storage device to store: (i) data which is indicative of the production processes performed by the production devices, (ii) the measured data, (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, (vi) data of the date of completion of each production process performed by the production devices, and (vii) data of the scheduled date of completion of the semiconductor devices; and a computing device, coupled to the data storage device, the computing device including: an estimated yield operating unit to calculate an estimated yield of semiconductor devices using the specifications of the production processes and the measured data; and a production managing unit to manage the production of the semiconductor devices using the estimated yield of semiconductor devices.