With years of double-digit annual growth, fabs and equipment suppliers alike are learning to make the most of decreasing demands in a ramp-down environment, including the use of overall equipment efficiency (OEE). rnOur current economic condition has seen the semiconductor industry resort to downsizing as average selling prices (ASPs) decline in all sectors (Fig. 1), most notably in memory. With fabs running at diminished capacity, chip manufacturers and equipment suppliers must become more cost-competitive and productive while continuing on a path to the next-generation technology node. This article explores how an unfamiliar ramp-down environment is causing manufacturers to develop new strategies to run their fabs more efficiently (Fig. 2), employing overall equipment efficiency (OEE) at various levels. Interestingly, OEE, a subset of cost of ownership (CoO), contains no cost information. rn"The proper level of OEE is the one that yields the optimal value to the factory as a whole. Productivity must be measured against the business and market needs," said Vallabh Dhudshia, affiliate consultant for Wright Williams & Kelly (WWK, Pleasanton, Calif).
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