A method, system and program product are disclosed for improving an IC
design that prioritize failure coefficients of slacks that lead to
correction according to their probability of failure. With an identified
set of independent parameters, a sensitivity analysis is performed on
each parameter by noting the difference in timing, typically on endpoint
slacks, when the parameter is varied. This step is repeated for every
independent parameter. A failure coefficient is then calculated from the
reference slack and the sensitivity of slack for each of the timing
endpoints and a determination is made as to whether at least one timing
endpoint fails a threshold test. Failing timing endpoints are then
prioritized for modification according to their failure coefficients. The
total number of runs required is one run that is used as a reference run,
plus one additional run for each parameter.