The semiconductor industry as we know it today is complex, multi-faceted, and constantly evolving. For those who manufacture semiconductor production equipment, having complete control of each assembly station is critical to guarantee an efficient and error-proofed manufacturing process.
In a similar scenario, performing preventive maintenance on these same machines requires reliable semiconductor process control to ensure that each and every step of the maintenance procedure is performed.
Due to the extensive and sometimes extremely complex process, manufacturing Semicon equipment is still performed manually with the assistance of multiple operators. Building this equipment can take anywhere between two and eight weeks. During this period, it is not uncommon to see an army of operators working on and off, three shifts a day, six days a week, to keep up with the constantly increasing demand for semiconductor equipment.
Think about all those operators and the importance of having a robust solution to guarantee that each task is performed according to instructions. Full process control is critical and nearly mandatory for semiconductor quality control purposes. This article will briefly overview how Atlas Copco can provide semiconductor process control through our Industry 4.0 solutions.
Producing semiconductor equipment
It’s not surprising that in the last few months, increased demand for chips utilized on smartphones, medical devices, vehicles, military systems, and more has led to a global supply shortage that has affected every single industry. Several Semicon equipment manufacturers have been struggling to keep up the pace of the increasingly exponential global demand for semiconductors.
Additionally, the production of semiconductor equipment is mostly performed by humans, which does not necessarily make these processes the most efficient ones, or do they? Let’s break this down.
Lack of semiconductor process control systems could create a high risk for human errors like missing screws, applying the wrong torque to a specific bolt, skipping (voluntarily or involuntarily) assembly steps, performing an assembly process not following an established tightening sequence, and more.
How can these events be avoided, and how can the operators be helped with these potentially complicated tasks? Implementing various systems that provide process control, such as Atlas Copco’s Industrial Location Guidance (ILG) tool positioning arm or Avantguard software, can increase your plant's semiconductor quality control and process consistency.
ILG is Atlas Copco's location system software, which ensures process security for applications ranging from simple to complex. It can run in conjunction with an articulated arm or a vision system. ILG tracks the tool's location relative to the fastening position, guaranteeing that the correct fasteners are tightened to specification in the proper sequence. Error-proofing alongside semiconductor process control has never been so simple!
Servicing semiconductor equipment
Let’s discuss another crucial aspect of the Semicon manufacturing process: performing preventive maintenance (PM) on semiconductor equipment. For every industry, but especially for those in the semiconductor industry, the failure or unexpected downtime of one piece of semiconductor equipment can wreak havoc on the productivity of the entire line, impact operational costs, affect a company's competitiveness in the market, and, of course, affect its reputation.
Implementing a software solution like Avantguard ensures efficiency and top-notch product quality across industries. It enhances the assembly workflow by providing unmatched efficiency and semiconductor quality control. By revolutionizing assembly procedures across diverse product lines, Avantguard detects errors and guides operators expertly through critical tasks such as repair processes, enabling a measurable positive impact on operational uptime and efficiency.
