A Hitchhiker´s Guide to the DFM Universe

This paper defines the scope of design for manufacturability (DFM) and describes a multi-layered approach to avoid, minimize and model its effects. It argues that through a combination of carefully chosen design rules, DFM guidelines, variability models, design-to-manufacturing and manufacturing-to-design communication, the DFM problem can be kept within tractable limits. It presents a DFM-pervasive design flow as a model and cautions that a good usage model and an appropriate cost vs. benefit determination must accompany adoption of each DFM proposal