YieldWatchDog FAQ

Any numerical data can be processed: wafer sort, final test, parameter test (E-test, PCM), inline measurement and defect data. Additional meta and attribute data such as lot equipment history, factory events and lot-tracing information can also be loaded into YieldWatchDog.

YieldWatchDog databases all over the world use the exact same data model. We’ve developed our own standardized data integration process for loading data. Either our integration experts write the data converters to parse your data into the required format as part of our service, or your in-house experts can follow our integration guidelines to do it themselves.

YieldWatchDog provides open interfaces that can be configured to connect to any other manufacturing software, including MES systems.

Many of our customers came to us after working with another platform. You can start with a low-cost trial installation using your own data before you decide anything: our experts write the loaders and parsers for your data during the trial, provide training and answer questions, so you see your own lots, wafers and tools in YieldWatchDog. The software is built to process huge amounts of data quickly and has been in use for many years in some of the largest front-end and back-end semiconductor fabs; the Ultimate edition adds massively parallel data import and multiple servers. Licensing is time-based — monthly, quarterly or yearly — with no large upfront investment. YieldWatchDog is vendor-independent — it works from whatever equipment and process data your fab already produces — and you reach the people who build and support the software directly, not a ticket queue.

Data from a former system is loaded through the same standardized integration process as any other source: our integration experts write the converters that parse your data into the YieldWatchDog format as part of our service — or your in-house team does it following our integration guidelines. Supported inputs include STDF/ATDF, KLARF, Excel, CSV, JSON, XML and other well-defined formats, and we have already built more than 100 customer-specific formats. A direct query against your existing database is also possible; the data is still converted into the YieldWatchDog format on its way in. Because every YieldWatchDog database uses the same data model, years of history stay comparable.

YieldWatchDog is implemented on a reliable, modern platform that’s capable of processing huge amounts of data quickly and efficiently. The software has been used for many years in some of the largest front end and back end semiconductor fabs and offers a proven solution for handling massive amounts of semiconductor manufacturing and test data.

Our reporting features create customized reports automatically, according to your specific needs. YieldWatchDog creates them as HTML or PDF documents for engineers, management or your customers.

A complete permission management system is built into YieldWatchDog, so you can assign different access rights to different users.

With the Material Tracing Module, YieldWatchDog provides full lot-, wafer- or device-level traceability throughout your entire supply chain. Its genealogy tool traces material movements along the entire manufacturing process.

DR YIELD has supported several product and even factory ramp-ups. Fast access to fully integrated data has been a critical success factor for these ramp-ups.

We can roll out a YieldWatchDog installation within a few weeks with our proven, standardized integration process. Our extensive experience in this area has led us to develop a very swift deployment process.

Licensing is time-based: you pay monthly, quarterly or yearly, so there is no large upfront investment. YieldWatchDog comes in three editions — Professional, Industrial and Ultimate — for different requirements in data volume, users and customization, and grows with your business from start-up to global corporation. Every edition offers unlimited database size and failover cluster support and includes a set number of support hours per year: 60 for Professional, 120 for Industrial and 300 for Ultimate. Modules are licensed flexibly and can be added to any edition. Please contact us and describe your requirements, and we will propose the edition and the modules that fit.

With a low-cost trial installation on your own data. During the trial, our experts work directly with you: they write the loaders and parsers for your data formats, train you in using the software and answer the questions that come up along the way. This also gives you a preview of how you will be supported once you are a customer. Please contact us or schedule a demo for more information.

YieldWatchDog needs a Windows Server, physical or virtual, and runs on every Windows Server version that Microsoft supports. We define your hardware requirements once we know your data volume and throughput. The YieldWatchDog clients run on any version of Windows currently supported by Microsoft.

YieldWatchDog is a solution, not just a piece of software, so timely and extensive customer support is always part of the business relationship. Each edition includes a set number of support hours per year, which can also be used for services such as custom feature development or additional data integration.

Every customer has their own requirements, so DR YIELD offers custom feature development as part of its service contracts: you get a stable, proven solution that meets your exact needs, even when they change. We see our customers as partners.

We provide server and client software that is installed entirely within your company, on your own hardware. To maintain the highest security and performance criteria, we recommend a local installation of YieldWatchDog. However, if your company prefers a cloud solution and has the necessary network bandwidth, it is also possible to host the software on a cloud server.

DR YIELD was founded in 2005 by former yield & test engineers who were not satisfied with the available yield software packages. The company is still privately owned by the founders. Over 20 years, we’ve grown to our current size without VC or other financial investors, building only on revenue from our customers.

DR YIELD’s customers include fabless start-ups, test foundries and some of the largest manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia, covering a wide range of segments like power/SiC, automotive, analog, foundries, and OSATs. Contact us if you’d like to talk to a YieldWatchDog user near you.

Our dedicated team combines semiconductor industry experience with IT expertise. Quality is further ensured by our integrated, fully automated software testing system.

All our technical staff — developers, testers and technical support — work at our headquarters in Graz, Austria. We support you remotely or through our local support partners near you.