A reticle stocking and sorting system. The reticle management system
comprises first reticle storage, second reticle storage, third reticle
storage, and a host system. The first reticle storage stores a first
reticle currently in use. The second reticle storage stores a second
reticle not currently in use. The third reticle storage stores a third
unused reticle temporarily before it is disposed of. The host system is
adapted to rearrange the first, second, and third reticles among the
first, second, and third reticle storages, based on demand data
pertaining to a product requiring least one article during fabrication.