Instruction system and method for equipment problem solving

• US 20050055259A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Chiang, Tien-Der, Kuo, Wen-Chang, Chen, Chun-Yi, Huang, Chien-Chung
• Application Number:
  US10/660,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis

Abstract

A method and system of providing instructions in addressing an equipment problem are provided. An indication of an equipment problem is checked against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to the equipment problem. A suggested solution from the at least one suggested solution is provided. An actual fix solution implemented in association with the equipment problem is recorded.

Claims

1. A method of providing instructions in addressing an equipment problem comprising the following steps:

checking an indication of an equipment problem against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to said equipment problem;

providing a suggested solution from said at least one suggested solution for implementation; and

recording an actual fix solution implemented in association with said equipment problem.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

checking said suggested solution against a materials database, said materials database including an inventory of materials needed to implement said suggested solution; and

alerting an equipment engineer of said needed materials.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said materials database further includes an indication of availability of said materials, said method further comprising the step of alerting said equipment engineer of said availability.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of suggested solutions are identified, said method further comprising the step of identifying a preferred solution from said plurality of suggested solutions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said identifying a preferred solution step includes the step of selecting said preferred solution based at least in part on an efficiency rating associated with said preferred solution.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording said actual fix solution into said solution database and associating said actual fix solution with said equipment problem.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of recording said actual fix solution into said solution database as a suggested solution only after said actual fix solution meets a minimum efficiency rating.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step includes the step of providing a notification to an equipment engineer, wherein said actual fix solution is implemented by said equipment engineer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said equipment problem is a problem associated with a piece of semiconductor fabrication equipment.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said actual fix solution implemented in connection with said equipment problem is said provided suggested solution.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step includes the step of providing said suggested solution to a wireless device in real time.

12. A method of providing instruction in addressing an equipment problem comprising the following steps:

recording an actual fix solution implemented in association with said equipment problem;

monitoring an efficiency rating of said actual fix solution in addressing said equipment problem; and

when an efficiency rating associated with said actual fix solution exceeds a minimum efficiency rating, making said actual fix solution available as a suggested solution to said equipment problem.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

checking a received indication of an equipment problem against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to said received equipment problem; and

providing a suggested solution from said at least one suggested solution to an equipment engineer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said making step includes the step of recording said actual fix solution in said solution database.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of associating said actual fix solution with materials used in said actual fix solution.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

checking said suggested solution against a materials database, said materials database including an inventory of materials needed to implement said suggested solution; and

alerting said equipment engineer of said needed materials.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said materials database further includes an indication of availability of said materials, said method further comprising the step of alerting said equipment engineer of said availability.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of suggested solutions are identified, said method further comprising the steps of identifying a preferred solution from said plurality of suggested solutions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said identifying a preferred solution step includes the step of selecting said preferred solution based at least in part on an efficiency rating associated with said preferred solution.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said equipment problem is a problem associated with a piece of semiconductor fabrication equipment.

21. A system for providing instructions in addressing an equipment problem comprising:

means for checking an indication of an equipment problem against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to said equipment problem;

means for providing a suggested solution from said at least one suggested solution for implementation; and

means for recording an actual fix solution implemented in associated with said equipment problem.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for checking said suggested solution against a materials database, said materials database including an inventory of materials needed to implement said suggested solution; and

means for alerting an equipment engineer of said needed materials.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein a plurality of suggested solutions are identified, said system further comprising means for identifying a preferred solution from said plurality of suggested solutions.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said identifying a preferred solution means includes means for selecting said preferred solution based at least in part on an efficiency rating associated with said preferred solution.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for recording said actual fix solution into said solution database and associating said actual fix solution with said equipment problem.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said actual fix is recorded into said solution database as a suggested solution only after said actual fix solution meets a minimum efficiency rating.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said providing means includes means for providing a notification to an equipment engineer, wherein said actual fix solution is implemented by said equipment engineer.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said equipment problem is a problem associated with a piece of semiconductor fabrication equipment.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said actual fix solution implemented in connection with said equipment problem is said provided suggested solution.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said providing means includes means for providing said suggested solution to a wireless device in real time.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein said equipment problem is a problem associated with a piece of semiconductor fabrication equipment.

23. The system of 22, wherein said materials database further includes an indication of availability of said materials, said system further comprising means for alerting said equipment engineer of said availability.

32. A system for providing instruction in addressing an equipment problem comprising:

means for recording an actual fix solution implemented in association with said equipment problem;

means for monitoring an efficiency rating of said actual fix solution in addressing said equipment problem; and

means for making said actual fix solution available as a suggested solution to said equipment problem when an efficiency rating associated with said actual fix solution exceeds a minimum efficiency rating.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for checking a received indication of an equipment problem against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to said received equipment problem; and

means for providing a suggested solution from said at least one suggested solution to an equipment engineer.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said making means includes means for recording said actual fix solution in said solution database.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising means for associating said actual fix solution with materials used in said actual fix solution.

36. The system of method of claim 35, further comprising:

means for checking said suggested solution against a materials database, said materials database including an inventory of materials needed to implement said suggested solution; and

means for alerting said equipment engineer of said needed materials.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein said materials database further includes an indication of availability of said materials, said system further comprising means for alerting said equipment engineer of said availability.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein a plurality of suggested solutions are identified, said system further comprising means for identifying a preferred solution from said plurality of suggested solutions.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said identifying a preferred solution means includes means for selecting said preferred solution based at least in part on an efficiency rating associated with said preferred solution.