System and method for complex process optimization and control

Apparatus for optimization of a complex process, said process being described by a plurality of input variables, a plurality of intermediate variables and a plurality of output variables having relationships therebetween such that ones of said inputs and said intermediate variables effect respectively different output variables, each of said output variables having a target, said apparatus comprising:

• an offline optimizer for performing offline optimization of at least some of said input variables and said intermediate variables to maximize convergence of said output variables to said targets, and
• an online optimizer for detecting actual variation in said variables, providing proposed compensations for said variations and performing online optimization of said proposed compensation to maximize said convergence.

Apparatus for design of a complex product, said product being described by a plurality of input variables, a plurality of intermediate variables and a plurality of output variables having relationships therebetween such that ones of said inputs and said intermediate variables effect respectively different output variables, each of said output variables having a target, said apparatus comprising:

• an optimizer for finding an optimum value for respective ones of said input and intermediate variables to maximize a summed convergence of said output variables to said targets.

Apparatus for development of a production process of a complex product, said production process having a plurality of output values and a plurality of input and intermediate variables, and wherein each output value has a target and is affected by different subsets of said input and said intermediate variables, said apparatus comprising:

• an optimizer for finding an optimum value for respective ones of said input and intermediate variables to maximize a summed convergence of said output variables to said targets.

Method for control of a complex process, said process being described by a plurality of input variables, a plurality of intermediate variables and a plurality of output variables having relationships therebetween such that ones of said inputs and said intermediate variables effect respectively different output variables, each of said output variables having a target, said apparatus comprising:

• finding an optimum value for respective ones of said input and intermediate variables to maximize a summed convergence of said output variables to said targets.