In a method and apparatus for predicting process results of objects being
processed in a processing chamber of a processing apparatus, operation
data and process result data obtained at the time of processing each of
the objects are collected and a multivariate analysis is performed on the
basis of the collected operation data and process result data to obtain a
first correlation therebetween. Process results are predicted on the
basis of the first correlation. Weighting coefficients for the respective
operation data are set on the basis of the predicted process results. A
second correlation between the weighted operation data and the process
result data is obtained by a multivariate analysis. Process results are
predicted by using operation data, obtained when objects other than the
objects used to obtain the second correlation are processed, on the basis
of the second correlation.