Microsoft Supports Interface A Adoption for Semiconductor Manufacturing

February 1, 2005
Microsoft .NET Technologies Enable Data and Information Sharing Between Fabrication Equipment and Factory Information and Control Systems
USA Today

REDMOND, Wash., Feb 01, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — Microsoft Corp. [MSFT] today announced its intent to support adoption of the Interface A standard for the semiconductor industry by developing architectural guidance that will allow chipmakers, equipment vendors, independent solutions vendors (ISVs) and systems integrators (SIs) to deliver Microsoft(R)-based solutions that support the standard. The Interface A standard, based on XML Web services, allows chipmakers access to more complete and useful data for applications such as equipment diagnostics and advanced process control. Microsoft's .NET technology helps enable the data and information sharing that Interface A solutions facilitate between fab equipment, factory information and control systems.

To help drive adoption, Microsoft is collaborating with industry-leading standards bodies, chip manufacturers and semiconductor equipment manufacturers, and is advising partners on how to best leverage the Microsoft platform to build solutions that support Interface A. Microsoft's .NET technology, which improves communication and collaboration across the manufacturing enterprise by connecting devices, systems and people, is an ideal software platform for solutions based on the Interface A standard. As a result, Microsoft partners such as AIS Automation Dresden GmbH, Asyst Technologies Inc., Cimetrix Inc., HCL Technologies OSIsoft Inc. and Wonderware have already achieved success with Microsoft-based Interface A solutions.

"Interface A is rapidly emerging as the dominant high-speed data highway for chipmakers to bring new processes online more quickly and improve process performance, and ISMI will continue to play a leadership role in driving industry adoption." said Harvey Wohlwend, project manager for e-manufacturing at ISMI (International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative). "Interface A is maturing, and there are numerous implementers, solution providers and underlying platform suppliers engaged in supporting the standard. Platform suppliers like Microsoft are key to the success of Interface A implementation and deployment."

One challenge faced by chip manufacturers is the demand of bringing new fabs online quickly. New fabs require complicated information technology (IT) environments to support operations and technical risks, and implementation time must be minimized. To help with this effort, Microsoft can advise on the architecture and implementation of fab IT technology to speed time to startup and improve reliability. In addition, Interface A solutions based on Microsoft's .NET technology and Web services allow semiconductor manufacturers to fine-tune manufacturing equipment to maximize yield and minimize downtime.

"Microsoft brings technology and expertise to the table that can assist partners in bringing Interface A solutions to market," said John McCallum, high-tech industry manager for the Manufacturing Industry Unit at Microsoft. "We have deep expertise developing Web services architectures across many related markets and have engaged with the semiconductor community in this effort to share best practices on .NET development and deployment to empower a healthy Interface A ecosystem. This is another example of .NET and Web services serving a mission-critical area for the manufacturing community."

To help improve operational efficiency for high-tech manufacturers worldwide, Microsoft continues to offer guidance and enabling technologies that allow partners to deliver enterprise-ready solutions that address critical customer needs. Guidance on developing Interface A solutions on the Microsoft platform is free to all Microsoft Gold Certified Partners.