Title: Cycle time simulation study for cluster tool operation in IC fabrication

Authors: Amit Kumar Gupta; Appa Iyer Sivakumar; Peter Lendermann

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Group, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet, RR District, Hyderabad 500078, India. ' School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' D-SIMLAB Technologies Pte. Ltd., 9 Jurong Town Hall Road, #03-45 iHUB, 609431 Singapore

Abstract: A cluster tool basically consists of one or more loadlocks where wafers enter and exit the cluster tool, two or more processing chambers where the processes are performed and one or more handlers that transport the wafers between loadlocks and processing chambers. This paper focuses on understanding the behaviour of a cluster tool system by simulation modelling, experimenting on the model and finding out the factors that influence the tool overall cycle time. The number of deposition chambers, number of robot grippers, clean cycle, MTTF and MTTR are identified as the most important factors for cycle time reduction at cluster tool in semiconductor wafer fabrication.

Keywords: cycle time reduction; cluster tools; simulation; IC fabrication; semiconductor manufacturing; integrated circuits; wafer fabrication; modelling; robot grippers; deposition chambers; clean cycle; MTTF; MTTR.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2011.045508

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.23 No.3/4, pp.179 - 192

Accepted: 13 Mar 2009
Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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