System for tracking operator certification of FAB equipment and processes

• US 7,054,698 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US10/617,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/95, 706/45, 118/719, 705/1, 705/9, 434/219, 434/350, 434/362
• US Class Current: 700/95
• 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 processes comprising the steps of:

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

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

said prohibiting step includes locking user access to said tools and/or processes until granting access according to said record and

providing a training means with access for certifying and recertifying of a potential user including providing a menu of tools and processes for said potential user to be certified or recertified and providing means for selection of tools and processes for the potential user to be certified or recertified to use and providing a listing for selection of trainers who are in the database to train the potential user to be certified or recertified.

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

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

means for prohibiting access to said tools and/or processes unless the user is certified according to said record at said certification database, said prohibiting access means includes a certification server coupled to said database and said means for prohibiting access for locking user access to said tools or processes until granting access according to said record;

means for certifying and recertifying a potential user including providing training access and providing a menu of tools and processes for said potential user to be certified or recertified and means for selection of tools and processes and providing a listing of trainers for selection who are in the system to train before giving access to the tools or processes.

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

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

means for prohibiting access to said tools and/or processes at a user access means unless the user is certified according to said record at said certification database, said prohibiting access means includes a certification server coupled to said database and said means for prohibiting access for locking user access to said tools or processes until granting access according to said record;

means for certifying and recertifying a potential user including means for auditing a person to be a potential user;

said auditing means including means for determining if the audit is a subform or a primary form where said subform addresses devices that use unique combinations/sequences of steps to build a device and operations on a tool; and

if a primary form or subform means for determining if the audit is an initial certification or recertification.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein if the audit is a subform and is an initial certification means for determining if a minimum training time limit is passed on the primary form and if not terminating the audit and if the minimum time limit is passed determining if there is a prerequisite certification for this audit and if not performing the audit and if so determining if a potential user has the required prerequisite and if not to terminate the audit and if so begin the audit.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein if the audit is a subform and a recertification is to be performed determining if an audit is required for recertification and if not terminating the audit and if an audit is required determining if the certification is locked in a table on a primary form and if so to terminate the audit and if not to begin the audit.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein if the audit is a primary certification and is an initial certification determining if a minimum training time limit is passed and if not terminating the audit and if the minimum training time has passed determining if there is a prerequisite certification for this audit and if not performing the audit and if so determining if a potential user has the required prerequisite and if not to terminate the audit and if the potential user has the required prerequisite performing audit.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein if the audit is a primary recertification determining if an audit is required and if the audit is not required terminating the audit and if determining the audit is required determining if the certification is locked in a training table and if so to terminate the audit and if not to begin the audit.

8. A method for reducing fabrication errors at a manufacturing facility having a plurality of tools and processes comprising:

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

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

auditing a person to be a user comprising the steps of determining if the audit is a subform or a primary form where said subform addresses devices that use unique combinations/sequences of steps to build a device and operations on a tool; and

if a primary form or subform determining if the audit is an initial certification or recertification.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein if the audit is a subform and an initial certification determining if a minimum training time limit is passed on the primary form and if not terminating the audit and if the minimum time limit is passed determining if there is a prerequisite certification for this audit and if not performing the audit and if so determining if a potential user has the required prerequisite and if not to terminate the audit and if so begin the audit.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein if the audit is a subform and a recertification is to be performed determining if an audit is required for recertification and if not terminating the audit and if an audit is required determining if the certification is locked in a table on a primary form and if so to terminate the audit and if not to begin the audit.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein if the audit is a primary and an initial certification determining if a minimum training time limit is passed and if not terminating the audit and if the minimum training time has passed determining if there is a prerequisite certification for this audit and if not performing the audit and if so determining if a potential user has the required prerequisite and if not to terminate the audit and if the the potential user has the required prerequisite performing audit.