Disclosed is a method of setting a process parameter for use in
manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising correcting a
first pattern by using process parameter information to obtain a second
pattern, the first pattern being one which corresponds to a design layout
of the semiconductor integrated circuit, predicting a third pattern by
using the process parameter information, the third pattern being one
which corresponds to the second pattern and which is to be formed on a
semiconductor wafer in an etching process, obtaining an evaluation value
by comparing the third pattern with the first pattern, determining
whether the evaluation value satisfies a preset condition, and changing
the process parameter information when the evaluation value is found not
to satisfy the preset condition.