Toshiba Corporation Selects Applied Materials' Predictive Scheduling Solution to Boost Lithography Efficiency
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
SANTA CLARA, Calif., September 27, 2011 - Applied Materials, Inc. today
announced that semiconductor and storage products company Toshiba Corporation
has purchased Applied's SmartSched(®) predictive scheduling software to improve
the capacity and efficiency of its photolithography operations. Installation of
the first phase of this breakthrough software solution began in August at
Toshiba's Fab 4 facility in Yokkaichi, Japan - currently one of the world's
largest 300mm "mega fab" chip production factories.(1)
"Unlocking litho capacity was identified as a critical step in increasing output
in our manufacturing operations," said Masanori Morikawa, senior manager of
manufacturing engineering at the Toshiba Yokkaichi Operation. "We selected
Applied's SmartSched solution because it offers the quickest, most cost-
effective route to optimize throughput and reduce cycle time, focusing first on
lithography steps. We plan on working with Applied to extend SmartSched
capability to meet additional Toshiba production requirements so we can improve
output and equipment utilization in multiple areas of our manufacturing
operations."
"SmartSched software is like the ultimate efficiency expert - addressing one of
the industry's biggest issues: managing lot movement to maximize the utilization
of each tool," said Charlie Pappis, group vice president and general manager of
Applied Global Services. "We're extremely pleased to be able to help a
technology leader such as Toshiba increase the return on their existing
lithography assets. We believe that all 300mm fabs can benefit significantly
from our SmartSched software solution, extending beyond litho to other
bottleneck tool areas of a factory. SmartSched software aligns very well with a
key objective in the ITRS roadmap to reduce wafer cycle time."
Applied's SmartSched software is the industry's first and only commercially
available predictive scheduling solution for optimizing the movement of wafers
through the litho cell - considered to be the most complex and capital intensive
area of the fab and a frequent bottleneck in production. It is also an area
where costs are expected to continue to rise with growing device complexity.
SmartSched uses proprietary predictive algorithms to help customers optimize
litho tool time, converting underutilization into expanded capacity. Greater
litho tool utilization also means that customers can potentially delay or avoid
the purchase of new equipment - providing a significant return on their
SmartSched software investment.
The SmartSched system is built on Applied's proven Advanced Productivity
software platform that includes capacity planning, scheduling, dispatching and
simulation technologies that are used by virtually every leading 300mm fab
worldwide. Together, they form a unique, integrated solution for optimum
manufacturing operations based on highly accurate planning processes. For more
information on Applied's comprehensive range of real-time decision-making
products, visit www.appliedmaterials.com/software-semi.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in providing
innovative equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of
advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products. Our
technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar
panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the
world. At Applied Materials, we turn today's innovations into the industries of
tomorrow. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
# # #
Contact:
Connie Duncan (editorial/media) 408.563.6209
Michael Sullivan (financial community) 408.986.7977
(1) SEMI 2011 World Fab Forecast
The Applied SmartSched predictive scheduling software:
http://hugin.info/143724/R/1550056/477158.jpg
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Source: Applied Materials via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1550056]
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Datum: 27.09.2011 - 13:32 Uhr
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