SAS, Brooks to Deliver Semiconductor Industry's First Yield Execution Solution
Integrated View of Product, Process and Tool Data Lowers Risk of Engineering Changes in the Fab
MUNICH, Germany, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brooks Automation Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS - news), a leading supplier of tool and factory automation solutions for the global semiconductor and related industries, today announced that it has formed an alliance with SAS, the leader in business intelligence, to develop the semiconductor industry's first yield execution solution.
This solution provides engineers, operators and managers with an integrated view of the data they need to manage the risk of planned and unplanned engineering changes in the semiconductor fabrication process. It also enables them to exploit this data via analytics and data mining, and collaborate over the Web.
The solution combines the power of SAS' data management and analytic software -- which is used extensively in the semiconductor industry -- with Brooks' domain expertise. It will include links to Brooks' factory automation solutions and open interfaces for integration with third-party automation products. Brooks will have sole distribution rights to the new joint solution in the semiconductor industry.
``We are very pleased to be working with SAS, a company known for its expertise in data warehousing and advanced analytics,'' said Robert Therrien, president and CEO of Brooks Automation. ``The technology drivers of smaller feature sizes, copper and ultra low-K inter-connect and 300mm mean that the number and complexity of engineering problems are increasing. Effective and timely resolution of these engineering problems requires rapid access to and analysis of integrated product, process and tool data -- data that often may span multiple sites and companies. The goal of this joint solution with SAS is to go beyond reactive yield management to proactive engineering analysis and yield execution. Until now, there has been no effective solution to these problems.''
``We believe that SAS' strength in data management and advanced analytics, combined with Brooks' leadership in factory automation and 300mm production, will result in a semiconductor industry solution that goes beyond traditional yield management systems,'' said Dr. Jim Goodnight, president and CEO of SAS. ``By enabling engineering and yield-limiting problems to be rapidly identified and addressed through the exploitation of integrated, comprehensive data, the yield execution solution has the potential to save semiconductor companies millions of dollars each year.''
The announcement of the new alliance between SAS and Brooks was made at SEMICON Europa 2002, the most comprehensive international exposition in Europe dedicated to semiconductor equipment, materials, suppliers and services.
About Brooks Automation Inc.
Brooks Automation Inc. is the leading global supplier of OEM tool automation and factory management software for the semiconductor, data storage and flat panel display manufacturing industries. As an established player in hardware and software automation, Brooks continues to pioneer ``Best-in-Class'' technologies that outperform their competitors -- from vacuum robots, cluster tool platforms and modules, ultra-clean mini-environments for isolating processing equipment and wafers -- to factory and tool automation software and integration services. Both OEM and fab customers leverage Brooks Automation's products and environments. The company has ISO 9001 certification, is headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass. and has direct operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and China. Brooks' Web-site is www.brooks.com.
About SAS
SAS is the market leader in providing a new generation of business intelligence software and services that create true enterprise intelligence. SAS solutions are used at more than 38,000 sites -- including 99 of the top 100 businesses on the Fortune 500 -- to develop more profitable relationships with customers and suppliers; to enable better, more accurate and informed decisions; and to drive organizations forward. SAS is the only vendor that completely integrates leading data warehousing, analytics and traditional BI applications to create intelligence from massive amounts of data. For 25 years, SAS has been giving customers around the world The Power to Know(TM). Visit us at www.sas.com.
Brooks Automation ``Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The foregoing discussion contains forward- looking statements relating to the expected benefits of the relationship between Brooks Automation Inc. (the Company) and SAS Institute Inc. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks relating to the successful collaboration between the Company and SAS, the ability of SAS to develop the product within a reasonable timeframe, the success of the product in the marketplace, the Company's dependence on the cyclical semiconductor industry, the ability of the Company to continue to successfully develop and market new products and product enhancements on a timely basis, the Company's dependence on relatively few customers for a significant portion of its revenues, the Company's reliance on sales to OEM customers and the lengthy sales cycles of those customers, the highly competitive nature and rapid technological change that characterize the industries in which the Company competes, and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company's future results will not be materially different from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only of the Company's expectations as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. Brooks and Brooks Automation Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of Brooks Automation Inc. in the USA and other countries. (R) indicates USA registration.
Contact:
Mark Chung, Director of Investor Relations
Brooks Automation, Inc.
Telephone: (978) 262-2459
Fax: (978) 262-7606
mark.chung@brooks.com
Mike Nemecek or Wally Maczka
SAS
Telephone: (919) 531-5140 or -5350
Mike.Nemecek@sas.com or Wally.Maczka@sas.com
SOURCE: Brooks Automation Inc. |
