Semiconductor wafers are processed in conjunction with a manufacturing
execution system using a run-to-run controller and a fault detection
system. A recipe is received from the manufacturing execution system by
the run-to-run controller for controlling a tool. The recipe includes a
setpoint for obtaining one or more target wafer properties. Processing of
the wafers is monitored by measuring processing attributes including
fault conditions and wafer properties using the fault detection system
and one or more sensors. Setpoints of the recipe may be modified at the
run-to-run controller according to the processing attributes to maintain
the target wafer properties, except in cases when a fault condition is
detected by the fault detection system. Thus, data acquired in the
presence of tool or wafer fault conditions are not used for feedback
purposes. In addition, fault detection models may be used to define a
range of conditions indicative of a fault condition. In these cases, the
fault detection models may be modified to incorporate, as parameters,
setpoints of a recipe modified by a run-to-run controller.