Specification sensitivity and its use in system design

An algorithm is described which computes the sensitivity of the manufacturing yield of a circuit or a system with respect to changes in the specifications. Using the concept of specification sensitivity, the change of the yield due to different changes of the specifications can be calculated without performing a new Monte Carlo analysis or retesting the network function. Circuits designed to work under environmental influence have to be tested at the production stage against a production specification, which also can be determined by specification sensitivity.