Introducing small, PC-based expert systems on a limited budget

At a time when companies are downsizing, cutting support services, limiting budgets and resources, and expecting more with less, small PC-based expert systems have become increasingly popular. These tools generate cost savings, enhance productivity, and preserve and provide continuity of knowledge and know how critical to the organization´s success. This paper describes the process used to introduce small, PC-based expert systems in semiconductor manufacturing that pay back the investment in software, hardware, time, and effort, in less than a year. The elements important in achieving successful implementation are discussed, including: champions, organizational education, learning to recognize suitable expert systems applications, a dedicated knowledge engineer, at least one recognized expert or enough valid and complete historical data, selecting an appropriate expert shell, choosing the first demonstration system, and choosing the first full-production systems. Based on these considerations five systems were created: a BiMOS C-V graph interpretation expert system: a full-production system that provides the emitter deposition cycle and makes post emitter adjustments: a customer-support expert system using a case-based reasoning expert shell; a case based reasoning expert system to be used for decision support purposes by our circuit design review board; and a rule based expert system for the epi area