Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SEMICON West 2002

Booth #5554

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2002

Collaborative Yield Analysis with Web-based Reporting and SPC Querying

Capabilities Developed by Electroglas' EGsoft Division will Benefit

Semiconductor Fabs, Foundries, and Fabless Companies

EGsoft, a division of Electroglas, Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLS), a leading supplier of process management tools for the semiconductor industry, today announced the launch of YieldManager(R) 4.0, a hardware-independent yield management software system. Through the implementation of collaborative software functionality, YieldManager 4.0 enables fabs and foundries to extend and improve their current yield management methodology, a key requirement for advanced process technologies like 300mm, Copper and low-k dielectrics. It also allows fabless semiconductor companies to collaborate with their suppliers, providing close correlation with manufacturing processes. The new modular structure of YieldManager 4.0 permits semiconductor manufacturers to easily adapt their yield analysis capabilities to focus on problems specific to their fab for the quick diagnoses of yield problems resulting in greater ROI and reduced fab loss.

"As we speak with customers, one thing we consistently hear is the need for technology that allows them to enhance yield management software functionality using yield management expertise that already exists within their organizations," said Joe LaChapelle, vice president and general manager of the EGsoft Division. "YieldManager 4.0 accomplishes this objective by providing collaborative yield-optimizing tools and applications that enable customers to leverage their own manufacturing intellectual property, which serves as differentiator within their market space, in a secure and global framework."

YieldManager 4.0 is designed to meet the needs of both present and future fabs, including the collection and analysis of large volumes of data generated by more complex processes, in-situ metrology and extensive parameter monitoring. Major enhancements in YieldManager 4.0 include:

-- A streamlined, user-friendly configuration environment, with features such as drag-and-drop and intuitive menus

-- A graphical analysis flow tool with scripting capability to automate the implementation of user-defined yield management functions

-- Web-based reporting capabilities

-- Web-based SPC for process parameter monitoring and excursion detection

-- Secure, remote access for a wider variety of users

"The industry will find that YieldManager 4.0 features a new distributed architecture, graphical user interface and expanded functionality that helps them quickly improve yield. Further, it provides seamless integration with other EGsoft process management applications which moves our customers one step closer to global control of their semiconductor manufacturing processes," said Ankush Oberai, vice president of operations of the EGsoft Division.

Built upon a component-based architecture, YieldManager 4.0 enables function and feature scalability through the use of plug-and-play modules. Compatible with any data source, the multi-tiered nature of the product delivers faster throughput and ensures quick access to larger terabyte databases.

Availability

YieldManager 4.0 is available now. This new version represents a significant enhancement for YieldManager, a product first introduced in 1995 and installed in over 45 fabs worldwide. To learn more about YieldManager 4.0 and other ways in which Electroglas is powering productivity throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process, please visit Electroglas in booth #5554 during the Wafer Processing portion of the show, being held July 22-24 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. More information is also available by contacting Electroglas at 408/528-3000 or visiting www.electroglas.com.

About EGsoft

EGsoft, the collaborative process management software division of Electroglas, provides a broad and encompassing portfolio of infrastructure and applications, from design through test. EGsoft spans the manufacturing domain from interface to the EDA environment with our market leading failure analysis solutions, to our yield management system solutions in the fab, to our extensive suite of test floor solutions. EGsoft has operations in San Jose, California; Corvallis, Oregon; and Mumbai, India.

About Electroglas, Inc.

Electroglas delivers essential tools for process management to enhance the profitability of semiconductor manufacturers. The company's wafer probers, inspection systems and software solutions serve as data collection, management and analysis tools that semiconductor manufacturers depend upon to improve their productivity and process control by optimizing sort-floor efficiency. Electroglas has been a leading supplier of wafer probers for over 40 years and has an installed base of more than 15,000 systems. The company's stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "EGLS". The company's World Wide Web site is located at www.electroglas.com.