Waste minimization in electronic component processing-a systems approach

A smart systems analysis for tracking process material flow and consumption and the generation of waste or by-product (per unit of manufactured product) at each step in the manufacturing process is discussed. Of particular interest is the manufacture of electronic components, which involves many process intensive, semicontinuous, and repetitive wet chemical and physical operations, which define circuit patterns on polymer, ceramic, or silicon substrates. A proposed architecture for the application of systems analysis in a typical manufacturing process line in a UNIX system environment is described. A major element incorporated in the platform is the Smart Module, which provides intelligent manufacturing system assessments having environmental impact at both the micro and macro manufacturing levels and which recommends process alternatives or control using knowledge of the best available process technology