Page 33 - EE Times Europe Magazine – November 2023

EE|Times EUROPE 33

Tapping AI for Leaner, Greener Semiconductor Fab Operations

consumption. Reducing the batch count can
lead to increased overall manufacturing effi-
ciency. Fewer batch changeovers and setups
mean less downtime, faster processing and
potentially higher throughput. This implies
reduced energy consumption, less equipment
usage and shorter production cycles, lowering
carbon emissions in the process.
As Potter pointed out, “In semiconductor
manufacturing, the relationship between
production volume and environmental impact
is not strictly linear. Adding one more wafer
does not proportionally increase the carbon
and resource footprint. A significant portion
of this impact remains relatively fixed, regard-
less of production volume. The key insight
is that software solutions like ours enable
increased production without new equipment
investment, reducing the substantial carbon
footprint associated with equipment acquisi-
tion in the semiconductor industry.”
Although Flexciton’s primary goal is to
optimize the manufacturing process for
efficiency, the company has begun to inte-
grate energy reduction into the production
programming equation.
Potter highlighted a research collaboration
Flexciton applies decomposition techniques for optimized wafer fab scheduling. between Flexciton and Infineon Technologies
(Source: Flexciton) to study operational decisions that could be
made at the fab level to reduce CO 2 emissions
software runs its calculations every ing Flexciton’s solutions reduced queue time without requiring a substantial investment or
10 minutes for the global scheduler and every by 11%, speeding task processing; reduced compromising productivity. The companies
three minutes for the toolset scheduler. the number of batches by 22%, leading to are also investigating greener alternatives to
Several collaborative studies reportedly more efficient production processes; and cut the chemicals currently used in chip manu-
showed promising improvements in fab timelink violations by 29%, indicating better facturing. ■
performance when Flexciton’s software was adherence to scheduled timelines.
used. A collaborative study with Renesas Flexciton said its hybrid scheduling Saumitra Jagdale is a contributing writer for
Electronics reportedly found that implement- model reduces carbon emissions and energy EE Times Europe.

Components of the Flexciton hybrid production scheduling model

www.eetimes.eu | NOVEMBER 2023