Collaborative reporting tools: An analysis of maintainance activites in a semiconductor factory

Reporting activities of maintenance work in semiconductor factories are currently based primarily on computing systems. However, usability problems and the multiplicity of tools hinder work instead of supporting it. We present a requirement analysis of complex maintenance activities carried out with maintainers in the cleanroom of a semiconductor fabrication plant. We conducted a contextual inquiry, methodologically adapted to the general requirements of the cleanroom context and the maintenance activities in particular. In this study, we identified general tasks of the maintainers, all tools they need to report and to communicate their work, and the maintainers´ attitude towards them. Based on these findings, implications are given on how to reduce the number of reporting tools and a conceptual design for a future maintenance tool is presented. We will show the feasibility of user-centered design in the complex context of a semiconductor fabrication plant in order to improve interface qualities of existing reporting tools.