IBM invented semiconductor manufacturing automation

I worked at Samsung when they just got done transitioning from rail-guided vehicles to an overhead handling system. The automation rate easily compensates for any specific end to end delays. You can have thousands of test wafers in flight at various stages with one line and not even impact production wafers. The scheduling, transportation and execution logic is where all the margin happens. Moving materials in physical space is the most expensive part of the process. Minimizing moves is critical. The direct monetary cost pales in comparison to the yield risk that arises each time you touch a box of wafers.

What exactly is the big advantage with the overhead handling system? I see videos of it online and think that it looks pretty complicated but I don’t see what the advantage is. Why not just have the track system be on the ground? Seems like it would be more maintainable.

I believe speed was the biggest factor. You can go a lot faster when you aren't contending with traffic. Vertical = multiple horizontal planes that don't interact much.

(2024)? (1970)?

Good read about the history of IBM during WWII

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_and_the_Holocaust

Nazism wasn't exactly unpopular in the US at the time (and still is, unless you mention it by name - think Alex Karp). It required a concerted propaganda effort to reverse that, with limited success - in the end Americans hated the German nazis, but never completely rejected their ideas about race supremacy.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/henryfo...