Designing Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment for Ergonomics and Safety

Safety is something that semiconductor equipment suppliers need to incorporate into all aspects of their equipment since the manufacturing process involves the routine use of chemical processing.

Safety guidelines, such as the SEMI S2, published by the global industry of microelectronics manufacturers, ensures suppliers implement safe operating protocols. Better ergonomic design of semiconductor manufacturing equipment as described in SEMI S8, helps promote a safer operating environment to reduce operator fatigue and strain.

Old installations may not meet the current safety standards or satisfy the owner's safety goals. It's better to purchase brand-new equipment that incorporates the use of upgraded safety features to ensure that the equipment and work environment will be as safe as possible.

Modutek follows the SEMI safety and ergonomics guidelines by designing equipment that's easy to use and reduces strain and fatigue. These include the wafer holding tray on Modutek wet benches which uses a robot arm whose function is to hold and move the tray to the front of the station for optimal loading with less effort. The wafer holding tray is just one of the examples of how Modutek implements ergonomic design to help operators do their work safely and with less effort. This results in fewer accidents, increased productivity and a better work environment.

Manufacturing facilities and research centers need to prioritize safety when purchasing semiconductor manufacturing equipment. While manufacturing facilities and research labs use clean rooms fitted with sprinkler systems, fire alarms and other kinds of fire protection, they can reduce the likelihood of fire accidents by minimizing the use of flammable equipment. Many wet bench processes use corrosive chemicals in tanks and pipes made of plastics or other synthetic materials that can be flammable. Modutek can support efforts of reducing the use of flammable materials by supplying equipment that complies with the FM 4910 flammability specifications to further reduce the likelihood of fire.

Find out more about how Modutek’s ergonomic designs can benefit your facility by reading the complete article “Designing Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment for Ergonomics and Safety.” Call Modutek if you have questions or would like to discuss your specific semiconductor equipment requirements.