A metal wire for inspection and an electrode for inspection are formed on
a region of a semiconductor substrate where a metal wire and an electrode
for external connection are not formed. The metal wire for inspection and
the electrode for inspection electrically detect an open failure, a
short-circuit failure and a leakage failure of the metal wire and a
connection failure between an element electrode and the metal wire. A
semiconductor wafer is subjected to an electrical test, so that it is
possible to detect the aforementioned failures with good accuracy during
a manufacturing process.