Services

Equipment Integration

Using the field proven Equipment Interface Development Lifecycle depicted above, Gnostic Systems staff has developed and deployed hundreds of equipment interfaces for process and metrology. On average, our EI developers have developed over 30 unique tool types each. Our depth of experience and broad knowledge of advanced applications enable us to provide our customers with highly functional, reliable and cost effective equipment interfaces on a predictable schedule.

Gnostic Systems services are available in most international locations, giving us the ability to be on-site with customers when required, and to provide domain expertise in equipment integration. A typical Gnostic System EI supports the following features:

Equipment and Communications Setup
Event Reporting for OEE tracking
Process and/or metrology data collection
Recipe Management
Advanced Process Control
Material Handling
Material Identification
Process Integrity

For a complete listing of the Equipment Automation Experience Gnostic's Engineers have developed:

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Automation Capabilities Management (ACM)

ACM is a formal process which manages the definition, acquisition, testing, and delivery of equipment automation capabilities within the factory control system environment. Historically, Gnostic Systems personnel played a defining role in the very first formal ACM activity as applied to the construction of a new factory and factory system. In a very real sense, we created the process and have been carefully refining it over the past 10 years.

The essential idea behind ACM is to define the automation requirements of a factory control system implementation in such a way as to provide equipment suppliers with a clear and concise specification that can be used as the basis for a formalized testing process. The testing process, which is the heart of the ACM process, insures the factory owner that each supplier for equipment is proactively assessed, any shortcomings are communicated, and progress is tracked starting at the beginning of the equipment procurement process.

This process of pro-active engagement with equipment suppliers has shown to reduce the variability and improve the quality of the equipment automation implementation. Experience has shown that a strong ACM process carried out by Gnostics Systems will measurably reduce the cost and time to implement a factory automation system.

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ACM categories include:

Automation Requirements Analysis
Procurement Specifications
Engineering Specifications
Process Management
Compliance Testing
Equipment Qualification

Project & Program Management

Gnostic Systems management has many years of experience in supplying Project Management expertise in both ACM and EI projects. We believe that more than anything else, project management experience in Semiconductor FAB Automation is critical to project success. The job of project management provides constant, careful attention to the management of the myriad of details required for proper project execution. The objective of project management is to ensure that the project meets the quality goals set by the customer.

Commonly, the three quality measures of project success are cost, schedule, and scope. For Gnostic Systems, the measures of success extend to many other areas, including risk, procurement, communications, and quality. We have found that two factors are crucial to achieving this objective: partnership/teamwork and effective project management.

By partnership, we mean that from the very beginning a project team that consists of personnel from the customer and the system integrator is in place. This team brings together their respective skills, talents, and experience to work together toward success. This partnership is further enhanced by ensuring that the right combination of technical, leadership, and managerial skills are brought together in synergy so that a strong, cohesive team emerges early in the project. Teamwork is achieved when all of the individuals realize a common set of objectives and become mutually supportive.

The second factor, effective project management, is achieved by setting clear, measurable, and meaningful milestones in every aspect of the project. These milestones are tracked to measure progress toward completion; and corrective action is taken whenever progress toward a milestone or goal is in jeopardy. In addition, procedures necessary for the effective and efficient functioning of every aspect of project management are put into place.

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Factory Control Systems Architecture

More than our knowledge of any specific software system or application, what we at Gnostic Systems know is your business. Our team of professional systems engineers has direct, hands-on experience working in manufacturing, implementing software systems, integrating applications to deliver an overall control system while managing all of these.

Because we know your business, we know your needs and requirements. We are uniquely qualified to turn your specific requirements, constraints, and vision into tangible written specifications, diagrams, and system architectures. To accomplish this we use state of the art Object-Oriented modeling techniques and formalized modeling software. We will take you through a cyclic process involving:

User interviews
Creation of an documented operational model
Construction of UML models
Formal presentations of system design and function
System Design and Architecture Documents
Project Plans with time and resource estimates

MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems)

Domain specialists from Gnostic Systems understand our clients′ processes and how they are currently performing their operations. We are able to use our understanding of the manufacturing environment, our knowledge of equipment automation, and our experience in the implementation of process control applications to model, configure and deploy MES implementations that enable the seamless integration of these components within the modern, highly automated, microelectronics production facility.

Gnostic Systems personnel have direct experience configuring the most widely used, as well as some of the most modern MES applications available to the industry. We are well versed in the configuration of WIP tracking, Equipment tracking, Workflow Definition, Run Definition, and Recipe Setup. We truly know your factory automation and control system from top to bottom.

APC (Advanced Process Control)

Gnostic Systems personnel are experienced in APC framework compliant systems design and implementation. Our APC implementation and integration experience dates back to the late 1980's and using 2GL algorithms to control diffusion Metal Deposition, and LPCVD processing. We have also experience in a more modern implementation of algorithms for run-to-run control and lithography analysis applications. Our personnel also played a key role in the design, development and implementation of the early Catalyst APC framework.

At Gnostic Systems, we have experience with APC systems from the standpoint of design and development not only of the core software applications, but also with the development of the control applications. This uniquely qualifies us to provide consulting, and implementation services for the integration and deployment of factory-wide automated process control systems.

Photovoltaic/Semiconductor Equipment Field Services

Gnostics Systems has personnel and dedicated partners to provide equipment services for Semiconductor, Photovoltaic, and Industrial Equipment. The major areas of support and expertise include:

Sustaining Engineering Services

Field Service (CMP, Photo, Etch, Photovoltaic)

Spares/2nd Source Provider

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Resource

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