After predicting a relationship between a design margin set against a
fabrication variation in design of an LSI and a yield, a specific design
margin for attaining a given yield is calculated based on the predicated
relationship. The yield is a delay yield obtained by cumulating a signal
propagation delay time thereby achieving a probability that a signal
propagated through a logic circuit of the LSI is delayed by a given
amount of time, and the design margin is a derating factor indicating a
ratio between the signal propagation delay time and a standard value of
the signal propagation delay time.