SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 03/25/2011Revised (if Applicable):

Document Number: 5151
SNARF for: New Standard: Specification To Transfer Wafer Mark Reader Data To Host System (MES)

Originating Global Technical Committee: Automation Technology
Originating TC Chapter: Europe
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: Equipment Interface Specification (EIS)
Note: If a new task force is needed, also submit a task force organization form (TFOF)

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1. Rationale:
a. Describe the need or problem addressed by this activity.
(Indicate the customer, what benefits they will receive, and if possible, quantify the impact on the return on investment [ROI] if the Document is implemented.)
Traceability is a very important aspect in production and the use of PV wafers. Therefore the task force developed a specification for marking square and pseudo square PV wafers.
To link the wafer number and the production data it is necessary to pass the data to the MES (Manufacturing Execution System). Without the data transfer to the MES, the wafer marking provides no benefit in terms of production optimization.
Since different MES are used in industry, it is important to standardize the interface between the controller of the handling equipment and the respective MES according to PV2.


b. Estimate effect on industry.
2: Major effect on an industry sector - identify the relevant sector
Sector or Company Information: PV-Wafer manufacturing
Customized ingot and wafer supply to monitor and control quality
PV-Cell production will be improved by
having the ability to install advanced process control (APC) methods,
Increase wafer efficiency by 0.2-0.4%
Increase the overall average wafer efficiency and minimize the standard deviation
Increase of yield
having the ability of supplier rating in order to assure quality of incoming wafers
PV-Module production will be improved by
having the ability to install advanced process control (APC) methods,
Increase the quality of the module production
having the ability of supplier rating in order to assure quality of incoming PV-cells
Solar power plant installation
Increase the quality of the installation
having the ability of supplier rating in order to assure quality of incoming modules
Solar power plant operation (maintenance)
Monitoring the degradation and lifetime
Warranty and Service Management
having the ability of supplier rating in order to assure performance parameters of the plant
PV Equipment manufacturers will have the following advantages
Reduction of development costs through modular design and standard specification
Reduction of equipment manufacturing and integration costs (plug & play interfacing)
Reduction of service costs
Best of bread component supplier selection
PV Module recycling companies
– Allows supplier back tracking and identification of
– Define no counterfeits possibilities

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

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2. Scope:
a: Describe the technical areas to be covered or addressed by this Document development activity. For Subordinate Standards, list common concepts or criteria that the Subordinate Standard inherits from the Primary Standard, as well as differences from the Primary Standard:
The areas which these standards will cover are from the brick to the module recycling, including solar farm operation. The mark or wafer identification shall be applied right after cutting from parent material. The result is to have an industry standard in which equipment suppliers and MES developer agree on the following key issues:

Define mandatory data for equipment to be transferred via SEMI PV2 which is required to fulfill traceability. For example:
Message content samples
Wafer ID
Year
Company
Wafer number / Brick + Relative Wafer Position
Time stamp
Reader number (position in system)
Taking Place
Putting Place
Independence from the method and type of wafer mark. The communication standard shall work for any kind of SEMI standardized PV-wafer marking

b: Expected result of activity
New Standard or Safety Guideline (including replacement of an existing Standard or Safety Guideline)

For a new Subordinate Standard, identify the Primary Standard here:




For Standards, identify the Standard Subtype below:


Miscellaneous (describe below):

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3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 04/01/2011b. 1st Draft by: 01/01/2012
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 07/01/2012
e. TC Chapter Approval By:09/01/2012

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4. Liaisons with other Global Technical Committees/TC Chapters/Subcommittees/TFs:
a. List SEMI global technical committees, TC Chapters, subcommittees, or task forces in your or other Regions/Locales that should be kept informed regarding the progress of this activity. (Refer to SEMI Standards organization charts and global technical committee charters and scopes as needed.)
PV EIS TF
Japan and NA Traceability Committees, Equipment Automation Committee, EU, Japan, NA, and Taiwan PV Committees)

b. List any planned Type I Liaisons with external nonprofit organizations (e.g., SDO) that should receive Draft Documents from Standards staff for feedback during this activity and be notified when the Letter Ballot is issued (refer to Procedure Manual § 7):


c. Intercommittee Ballots:


Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

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5. Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected:
NOT to be a Safety Guideline

NOTE FOR "to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is NOT technically sound and complete - Refer to Section 15.1 of the Regulations for special procedures to be followed.

NOTE FOR "NOT to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is still technically sound and complete.

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6. Intellectual Property Considerations:
Note: Both a: and b: below should be checked for Revision of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s).

a. For a new Standard or Safety Guideline and for any part to be modified or added in a Revision of published Standards and Safety Guidelines:


If "patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) " is selected above, then also check one:


b. For Revision, Reapproval, Reinstatement, or Withdrawal of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s):


c. The body of the Document and any Appendices, Complementary Files, Related Information sections, or Various Materials that may or may not be a part of the Document by reference:



NOTE FOR ‘the use of patented technology or the incorporation of Copyrighted Item(s) is NOT required’: If in the course of developing the Document, it is determined that the use of patented technology or Copyrighted Item(s) is necessary for the Document, the provisions of Regulations § 16 must be followed.

NOTE FOR ’will incorporate Copyrighted Item’: A copyright release letter must be obtained from the copyright owner prior to publication.

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7. Comments, Special Circumstances:
None.

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8. TC Member Review:


Member Review Start Date; None.
Member Review End Date: None.

NOTE FOR ‘TC Member Review’ is required by the Regulations for a period of at least two weeks
before approval of a new, or a major revision of an existing, Standard or Safety Guideline. (Refer to Regulations ¶ 8.2.1)
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9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS03/22/2011
Recorded in TC Minutes

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10. SNARF Extension Dates:
TC Chapter Extension Granted on
Extension Expires on