Patent ID: 8340800

Claim:
A method of monitoring a process in a semiconductor production facility, the method comprising: establishing a tool defect index associated with a process sector in a semiconductor production facility, the tool defect index including a signal representing a defect factor associated with at least one tool in the process sector; determining whether the defect factor associated with the at least one tool is a known defect factor or an unknown defect factor; analyzing at least one wafer from the at least one tool if the defect factor associated with the at least one tool is an unknown defect factor by dividing the at least one wafer into a plurality of zones and analyzing at least one of the plurality of zones for a zonal defect density; identifying at least one defect on the at least one wafer from the at least one tool; establishing that the at least one defect is a defined significant defect; determining a cause of the at least one significant defect; and creating an alert indicating that the at least one tool associated with the process sector is producing wafer having at least one defined significant defect.