Auto-Soft Introduces iMaven - the First Integrated Fab-Wide Automation Suite.SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1998--Auto-Soft(R), a leading semiconductor manufacturing systems integrator and solutions provider, announced the release of iMaven(TM) - the first applications suite framework that pre-integrates equipment control, material handling, wafer tracking and automatic identification systems for complete semiconductor fab See fab. automation. iMaven includes a single common database and graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to (GUI (Graphical User Interface) A graphics-based user interface that incorporates movable windows, icons and a mouse. The ability to resize application windows and change style and size of fonts are the significant advantages of a GUI vs. a character-based interface. ) for monitoring all fab equipment processes and tracking materials down to the individual wafer level. With iMaven, the interfaces between the user, the processing equipment, the material handling/identification equipment and the manufacturing execution system – Manufacturing execution system (MES) describes a set of integrated functions within a packaged software system or it can also describe the accumulated functionality within the production management infrastructure of a manufacturing or production company. (MES (Manufacturing Execution Software) Software that provides real time access to plant activities that include equipment, labor, orders and inventory. An MES integrates the data with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems so that management has complete control of ) are pre-integrated into a core framework, eliminating the need to develop expensive custom interfaces. These pre-integrated interfaces ensure trouble-free communications and coordination between systems, while minimizing project risk, cost and development time. Also, the unique integration requirements of fab equipment are implemented faster and at lower cost because iMaven uses an object-oriented architecture that adheres to industry-standard protocols. iMaven's fab-wide GUI: -- simplifies system configuration -- displays real-time equipment and wafer-lot status -- guides operators through process steps -- increases equipment utilization -- ensures accurate processing -- reduces data entry time -- reduces training time -- improves operator productivity "iMaven's pre-integrated framework and built-in GUI typically save the customer 50 percent in integration costs and development time by significantly reducing the integration task," said Steve Barlow, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , Auto-Soft. "And the customers can save even more on their maintenance and upgrade costs - typically a 60-80 percent savings." iMaven components include: -- Cell Control, Material Handling, Auto ID and MES Interface Components - automate and coordinate all fab equipment and manufacturing execution system functions. -- Fab-Wide Graphical User Interface - adds a common GUI with point-and-click control of process tasks to virtually any MES and to all fab equipment. -- Lot/Wafer Tracking - continuously tracks and logs the location and the processing performed on all lots and individual wafers throughout the fab process. -- Zero-Downtime Equipment Addition/Reconfiguration - adds or reconfigures equipment and adds software components on the fly without system shutdowns. -- Fab-Wide Common Database - tracks and logs the status of all process/material handling equipment and all lots/wafers for fast product traceability, yield analysis and production bottlenecks identification. With iMaven's single common database and GUI, multiple queries to multiple databases are no longer required to accurately track wafer location and equipment status information. Using iMaven's correlated wafer and equipment tracking statistics, production bottlenecks are easily identified and eliminated. "In the semiconductor fab, any downtime, even for equipment additions and reconfigurations, is unacceptable," said Barlow. "For this reason, we developed iMaven to be upgradable and reconfigurable on the fly without requiring a system shutdown." Written in Java, iMaven is a platform-independent application. It runs on Windows(R) NT, Windows(R) 95, Solaris, HP-UX HP's version of Unix that runs on its 9000 family. It is based on SVID and incorporates features from BSD Unix along with several HP innovations. (operating system) HP-UX - The version of Unix running on Hewlett-Packard workstations. , Digital UNIX, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) IBM's Unix-based operating system which runs on its Intellistation workstations and pSeries, p5, iSeries and i5 server families. and any other platform with a Java virtual machine A Java interpreter. The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is software that converts the Java intermediate language (bytecode) into machine language and executes it. The original JVM came from the JavaSoft division of Sun. . Java compliance guarantees that iMaven will run without modification even with new operating system releases. iMaven's distributed components are connected using CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) A software-based interface from the Object Management Group (OMG) that allows software modules (objects) to communicate with each other no matter where they are located on a private network or the global , the object -oriented connection standard that utilizes TCP/IP TCP/IP in full Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol Standard Internet communications protocols that allow digital computers to communicate over long distances. protocol. Using CORBA greatly simplifies the integration of otherwise complicated TCP/IP connection schemes and provides for standard connectivity to other systems. iMaven is currently available and will be demonstrated at SEMICON SEMICON Semiconductors Equipment and Material International Conference West '98. For additional product information or purchase inquiries, contact Tim Bailey at 801/322-2069 ext. 316 or by e-mail at tim_bailey@autosoft.com. Auto-Soft, founded in Salt Lake City in 1985, is a leading systems integrator and automated solutions provider that integrates equipment and software to solve automation challenges through the innovative application of IS technology. With Auto-Soft semiconductor manufacturing systems in operation for an accumulated 130+ years, the company specializes in manufacturing execution systems integration, cell control systems, material control systems, auto ID systems, automated material handling systems and warehouse management systems. Auto-Soft employs more than 250 experienced software engineers located in support service offices around the world. Note to Editors: Product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Auto-Soft, Salt Lake City
Jeff Allen, 801/322-2069 ext. 560
jeffrey_allen@autosoft.com
or
PPCH Public Relations, Salt Lake City
Jason Wallace, 800/409-9346
jwallace@ppch.com
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