System for tracking operator certification of FAB equipment and processes

• US 20050010466A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Chiploonkar, Milan, Rodenroth, Gregory, Wegleitner, Alan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A software system is provided that tracks employee and contractor operation/certification of fabrication equipment and processes is provided to ensure that only qualified personnel are allowed to process the materials. The system is real time with an auto-update features, Web enabled, dynamic tool interface with automatic record checking and reporting,

Claims

1. A method of reducing fabrication errors at a manufacturing facility having a plurality of tools and materials comprising the steps of:

providing a certification database containing a record of certified user names and tools and/or materials the users are certified to use; and

prohibiting access to said tools and/or materials unless the user is certified according to said record at said certification database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said prohibiting step includes access means for locking user access to said tools or materials until granting access according to said record.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said prohibiting step includes a certification server coupled to said database and said access means.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of updating said records.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said user records are updated.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said tool and material requirements are updated.

7. A system for reducing fabrication errors at a manufacturing facility having a plurality of tools and materials comprising:

a certification database containing a record of certified user names and tools and/or materials the users are certified to use; and

means for prohibiting access to said tools and/or materials unless the user is certified according to said record at said certification database.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said prohibiting means includes mean for locking user access to said tools or materials until granting access according to said record.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said prohibiting means includes a certification server coupled to said database and a user access means.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said user access means is a bar code reader for identifying the user.

11. The system claim 10 including means for updating said records.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for updating said records includes updating user records.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for updating said records includes means for updating tool and material requirement records.

14. The system of claim 12 including a training manager for certifying a user.

15. A system for reducing fabrication errors at a manufacturing facility having a plurality of tools and materials comprising:

means for tracking user operation certification of fabrication equipment and

means for processing in real time format to ensure only qualified personnel are allowed to process customer materials.