Roughly described, method and apparatus for laying out an integrated
circuit, in which a subject interconnect has predetermined values for a
plurality of variables affecting propagation delay of the subject
interconnect. The value of an adjustment one of the variables is adjusted
to minimize exposure of the propagation delay of the interconnect to
process variations causing variations in the value of a subject
fabrication variable, and a revised layout is developed in dependence
upon the adjusted value for the adjustment variable. In an embodiment,
the adjustment is made in dependence upon a pre-calculated "interconnect
optimization database" indicating combinations of values for the
plurality of variables which have been pre-determined to minimize
exposure of interconnect propagation delay to process variations
affecting the subject variable. Different databases, or different entries
in the same database, can be provided for minimizing exposure of
interconnect propagation delay to process variations affecting each
subject variable of interest.