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IBM to market ILOG scheduling capability for IC production with 300mm demos |
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Dec 19, 2006 at 02:06 PM |
 ILOG has signed an agreement for IBM to market the ILOG Fab PowerOps (FPO) solution for semiconductor production scheduling to IBM's manufacturing execution systems (MES) customers, among others. IBM will market ILOG FPO under the ILOG brand name to its installed base of SiView, LCDView and other View MES product customers.
The agreement between ILOG and IBM is expected to result in new product
revenue opportunities and service engagements for both companies. The
services will be provided through IBM Technology Collaboration
Solutions and IBM Global Business Services, with support from ILOG's
Professional Services group.
ILOG FPO is already in the early implementation stage at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm fab facility in East Fishkill, NY, in the photolithography and diffusion areas. Results already achieved with ILOG FPO include reduced cycle times by up to 15% in those specific areas and significantly reduced hot lot (urgent order) processing times. ILOG's FPO also improved visibility over in-process fab status, resulting in a more efficient plant that is more responsive to change, the companies say. In addition to marketing ILOG FPO, IBM will demonstrate the products to customers at its 300mm East Fishkill fab facility.
"IBM is a leading technology provider to the semiconductor industry, so there is no better company from our perspective to market FPO in conjunction with their SiView and LCDView offerings," says ILOG chairman and CEO, Pierre Haren. "This alliance with IBM will enable us to increase both our market reach and technology advantage, especially in Asia, where much of the growth in semiconductor manufacturing is happening. Today's agreement is the latest example of our growing collaboration with IBM."
"We've already seen increases in fab productivity due to the relationship with ILOG," says Dr Elizabeth Williamson, IBM Director of 300mm Manufacturing Operations. "The enhanced dispatch scheduling capabilities that are provided by FPO have resulted in quantifiable benefits in IBM's 300mm facility, resulting in faster time to market for our customers."
ILOG's technology includes optimization, business rule and visualization technologies developed for many businesses. In the FPO implementation, this is combined with detailed fab status information, to optimize production scheduling across multiple process areas such as diffusion, wet processes, photolithography, etch, and thin film deposition. ILOG sees its product as filling a gap in the market for detailed production scheduling solutions. The aim of ILOG FPO is to address scheduling problems based on the current status of the fab environment, giving users more control over unplanned events, such as tool interruptions, recipe qualifications and hot lots. The tools are expected to reduce capital equipment outlay by better use of existing capacity. Configuration options allow each process to be tailored to meet the requirements of individual fabs.
By Dr Mike Cooke
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