Applying DFM in the semiconductor industry

In many industries, design for manufacture (DFM) has become a central concept for survival in increasingly competitive global markets. One of the important lessons of DFM is that consideration of manufacturing issues early in the design phase can reap substantial benefits. These include savings in set-up and production costs, reduction of lead times required to bring a new product to market, reduction of parts inventories and associated overhead, and improvements in overall product quality and reliability. This paper describes an effort recently initiated at the University of Virginia and SEMATECH to examine the application of DFM to the design and fabrication of integrated circuits. The DFM philosophy and related methodology, as these have evolved for numerous mechanical and electronic products, are discussed. Existing DFM concepts are considered in light of the unique features of integrated circuit design and fabrication. Some directions for further study are outlined.