NOVOPLEX

VENTURE SIMULATOR

By

NICK ATCHISON

ŠNick Atchison 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Work in progress

My E-MAIL: XXXpostmaster@ holomirage.com. (Remove the XXX spam blocker from the e-mail address)


Introduction

No designer would consider submitting a design of any significant complexity to tape out without a thourough simulation yet it is common practice to submit a simulated design to an unsimulated new product introduction sequence based on nothing more than a flow chart that states expectations based on prior experience. Because any high technology venture worth generating 5 million dollars worth of tooling normally is justified by a significant evolution of the art such that prior experience alone is not a sufficient predictor of success when exicuting a sequence of events that must occur every two hours over a six month period. There is no exact schedule/list of requirements that detec that the train is at risk of leaving the track. This is why 3 out of 4 new process/package/product introduction plans fail to meet plan. When the train jumps the track, there is almost always no fail safe contingency plan in place to avoid a complete re-spin let alone a simulation that provides a PFMEA (Process Failure Mechanisms and Effects Analysis) with modular, automated device failure mode root cause diagnostic tool. This condition extends the period of confusion. When the test programs written normally do no work 100% correctly for at least a year and do not automatically back extrapolate each electrical test performance failure to the related schematic functional failure back to the causal physical structure discontinuity that points to design vs. process problems. This is required to fix the problem because the design must change to fit the foundry process. From any distance at all, this looks like wandering in a chaotic miasma of ineptitude and disgrace unbecoming of out true capability.

To correct this condition at TeraHertz Semiconductor in 1990, a complete Class-S specification for the New Product Introduction and related simulator was developed to shepard the venture the development of a 1 terahertz CPU by 10 X-VP's of prominant Silicon Valley Companies. The system of specifications was named "NOVOPLEX".

The present rendition of NOVOPLEX uses a system of AI Agents that reside in a cloud of servers organized in the hierarcical structure of a company such that the work of any agent is interchangable with an engineer. The basic format requires that all comunication be done using e-mail forms that can be composed by either the AI Agent or and engineer. This highly proscribed system is similar to a Class-S mil standard specification system in which every element of a project is specified. Class-S specification systems are automatically IsoXXXX qualified.converted into a hierarcical organization of AI Agents - 1 CEO, 3 VP's, 9 Directors, 27 Managers, 81 Supervisors that perform ~27 sequential responsibilities requiring ~3 actions - a system with operational 6,666 base capabilities. A spreadsheet like simulator is generated that formulates data base queries, performs analysis, issues reports etc. All actual work is done by engineers and data entry clerks. Novoplex has the look an feel of working by computer from a remote site. No central office is required. The physical system looks like a small rendition of the HAL 9000 in the movie 2001. Each AI Agent is a white LED lit thumb drive containing a server which has a fully covnersational Avitar personality simulation similar to "ALACE". This provides a neumonic device that makes the operational system and AI Agents easily comprehendable by non-technical staff.

To start, the user turns on a customized laptop and fills out a product specification form which becomes the product spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is expanded into a business plan spreadsheet. The business plan spreadsheet is expanded into spreadsheets that replace all required forms, simulations and reports. When needed the spreadsheets activate a complex system of prograsms that perform all "unconcious" background analysis and calculation. Once the system is up and running each AI Agent's performance sequence can be observed with a modified IPAD. The deep "unconcious" processes are highly defined and not available for direct observation or change. (This is similar to the way that complex semiconductor equipment operates.)

Althought the simulator is designed to be able to introduce new products using only contractors contacted electronically to perform specific tasks, in most applications the system is used to perfect the base plan, get agreement by the members of the start-up team as to the work to be done and to shadow the actions of the team providing them with a self micromanaging cheat sheet that keeps track of their agreed responsibilities.

Table of Contents

This section describes the structure, function and performance of NOVOPLEX. Specifications = Structure. Programs = Function. Simulation = Performance.

Note that by the tenants of Systems Theory, all manifestations have a structure that has a functional capability that produces a given performance. The fractal SFP matrix and the complete inter connected (holographic) communication capability of all elements is the theoretical foundation of NOVOPLEX.

SIMPLE DEMO

The following demo consists of a set of self generating forms that derive themselves from a seed - The New Product Data Sheet - and in sequence produce a business plan, a company level schedule of work, design schedules, contracts, P.O.'s, BOM's, device net lists, tooling net lists, characterization matrix, qualification matrix, marketing plan, sales plan and CMR system. Each function has a list that describes all required tools (structure), actions (function) and evaluations (performance).

1.0 System Structural Specifications

1.1 Structural Description

Specification of a group of interacting programs that simulate company operation

1.1.1 Specifications

1.1.2 Equipment

1.1.3 Reports

1.2 Functional Algoritm Matrix

Overview of how the system works from the point of view of a group of interacting programs that simulate company operation

1.2.1 Templates

1.2.2 Generative Programs

1.2.3 company & Product

1.3 Operation Manual

User manual for an ISO9XXX complient multi-agent artificial intelligence semiconductor start-up simulation tool with error prediction, progress monitoring and results diagnosis

1.3.1 Initation Sequence

1.3.2 Evaluation

1.3.3 Qualification

2.0 Program Functional Capability

2.1 System functional operation demonstration

2.1.1 Specification generator

2.1.2 Equipment selector

2.1.3 Reports generator

2.2 Individual Algoritm Demonstration

2.2.1 Generative Template Convolution

2.2.2 Technology/Process/Assembly/TestProduct/Qualification Simulator

2.2.3 Start-up Sequence Simulator

2.3 System Demonstration Using Generic Company Data

2.3.1 Generative Sequence Convolver

2.3.2 Initation Sequence Generator

2.3.3 Qualification Sequence Generator

3.0 Start-up Performance Expectations

3.1 Company Corporate Structure Generation Control Panel

Control panel for a group of interacting programs that generate an NPI organization

3.1.1 Specifications generation

3.1.2 Organization generation

3.1.3 Sequence Instantiation

3.2 Company Engineering Procedures Operation

Control panel for a group of interacting programs that simulate a new product introduction

3.2.1 Automated NPI Simulation program generator

3.2.2 Automated NPI Evaluation Sequence Generator

3.2.3 Automated Qualification Sequence Generator

3.3 Technical Operations Control Panel

Control panel for a group of interacting programs that initate a new product introduction

3.3.1 Initation Sequence

3.3.2 Progress Reporting

3.3.3 Qualification