How MRD XL Automation will develop the Semiconductor Industry
How MRD XL Automation will enable the compound semiconductor industry to take major steps forward
It may not look like it, but we’re in the middle of a major global revolution. This transformation will impact our lives, societies, and the environments around us. Yet, for most of us, it won’t look as if anything has changed at all! This transition is called Industry 4.0 – indicating that this is the fourth revolution of its kind to take place in the manufacturing industry. From the first industrial revolution, which harnessed steam power in mechanization, through mass assembly and electricity in the second, all the way through the third with the adoption of computers, it’s now time to embrace the newest technological advancements: smart systems, machine learning, and automation.
But for the semiconductor industry, this revolution hasn’t come as a surprise. That’s because Industry 4.0 owes a lot to the advancements that have been bubbling under the surface of semiconductor manufacturing for many years now.
Many companies operating in the compound semiconductor industry already grew into fully matured production companies generating billions in revenues, on par with their silicon counterparts.
Due to the innovative nature of this industry, a large number of smaller companies working on their innovations are still somewhere in the transition from research-led operation to start-up to scale-up to large production companies. Larger companies are adopting SEMI standards at an ever-increasing pace.
It is only natural for the move from a research-led operation to a production operation to seem like a daunting challenge.
For example, fabs have different performance criteria for their equipment than labs. This is largely because of the jump in the accompanying quality benchmarks that must be met. These days, maintaining a cleanroom environment in line with ISO and federal classifications is nothing short of essential for any fab that wants to avoid limiting the type and quality of the semiconductors it produces. Fabs adopting the latest Semiconductor Equipment and Manufacturing International (SEMI) standards need to ensure their production lines are operating according to ISO cleanroom practices.
Partly as a result, automation is also becoming increasingly widespread. A valuable asset for semiconductor production, automated solutions reduce the need for human involvement and cut down contamination.
With such a vast array of precise and complex processes to perform – particularly in the crucial phase of wafer analysis – it has been essential for research and manufacturing facilities to embrace automation. However, up until now, automation has been limited by technical capabilities and the need for manual intervention in the control and operation of automated tools.
High-tech solutions to heighten your analysis
With MRD XL Automation, all that is about to change! With cutting-edge automation functionality, this software enables our X’Pert3 MRD XL instrument to perform wafer analysis entirely free from human input. From wafer selection to analysis, all the way to results distribution, this instrument enables a faster and more efficient research and production process, making it a truly semiconductor metrology tool!
Plus, by removing the need for hands-on human intervention, wafers are at a much lower risk of contamination than they are with manual intervention techniques. Humans are the primary cause of contamination in wafer analysis, so this automation functionality is a huge advantage in ensuring a cleaner research or production environment.
And there’s more! Due to the nature of the MRD XL Automation framework, our experts can adapt the software configuration to meet each customer’s individual needs. This means that not only can customers match the software solution to meet their current requirements – but they can also change the recipes and adapt their procedure whenever they need to. This additional feature in an already modular instrument sets MRD XL up as the ideal package for companies that need their tools to grow in tandem with their operation. Or even solutions that can help them to make the all-important scale-up from lab to fab!
Get to know MRD XL Automation in our next webinar!
To find out more about MRD XL Automation and the benefits it could bring to your application, come to our next webinar! On October 11, our experts, Tim Gorter and Biljana Spireva, will explore the MRD XL platform, demonstrate its implementation and answer all your burning questions.
So, if you’re ready to bring cutting-edge functionality and advanced technical capabilities to your wafer analysis, don’t forget to sign up! With MRD XL automation, you’ll see the benefits of faster, easier, and more efficient semiconductor analysis in no time.
To find out more about the MRD XL Automation, register for the webinar today!
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