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Q&A
Answers to your questions from KLA-Tencor’s Yield Management Consulting Group (YMC).
Q
I already have yield engineering experts on staff in my fab; what value can a Yield Management Consulting team bring me?
A
The KLA-Tencor Yield Management Consulting group adds value to your yield improvement efforts in two ways. First, we maintain a unique bank of proprietary information captured from benchmarking more than 100 of the world’s top semiconductor manufacturers. This information bank includes a highly confidential database of yield learning rates and maximum achievable yields, as well as “best practices” identified throughout the semiconductor industry. Using this database, Yield Management Consulting can help determine your fab’s yield potential and which “best practices” can help you quickly achieve your yield goals. Second, when time-critical situations occur in your fab, our team of seasoned yield management professionals can supplement the skill sets of your fab yield engineers to jointly address your yield problems.
Q
What expertise do your yield management consultants offer?
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Q
Our Fab Yield Benchmark Study and Statistical Probe Yield Analysis use Yield Management Consulting’s specialized consulting software and our proprietary databases. However, customers obtain the greatest benefit and value when KLA-Tencor inspection tools, analysis software, and yield management consulting expertise are integrated to provide a complete solution to yield-limiting issues.
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Are your services effective in new fab start ups, as well as existing fabs?
Our Yield Management Consulting team is comprised of specialists with an exceptionally broad-based set of yield management skills. They represent over 400 collective years of wafer fab yield engineering experience and state-ofthe-art knowledge in interconnect and equipment technology. What kinds of results have been seen from YMC work?
Q
Accelerated yield learning rates can translate into millions of dollars in additional revenue. Results vary by customer situation; however, many customers have stated that they have realized tens of millions of dollars in savings or revenue as a direct result of yield improvements achieved with Yield Management Consulting assistance.
Q
Would Yield Management Consulting services benefit me even if I do not have KLA-Tencor equipment or software in my fab?
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Yes, Yield Management Consulting offers a set of services that are not KLA-Tencor tool dependent.
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These services are very important to the ROI for a new fab since the longer it takes to ramp a new fab, the more revenue is lost. Because today’s typical new fab investment is $1.5 billion, it is critical to maximize the ROI by quickly ramping to entitled yields. Yield Management Consulting uses their suite of proven yield management methodologies and services to help you achieve industry-leading fab yield ramp rates to assure maximum yield and ROI in the minimum amount of time. For more information, contact your local YMC group 408.875.2696 circle RS#026
Autumn 1998
Yield Management Solutions
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