Semiconductor factory automation system and method for transporting semiconductor wafers

A semiconductor factory automation (FA) system, comprising:

• a common communication line;
• a plurality of process means for processing a lot of semiconductor wafers to be contained in a semiconductor wafer cassette, wherein one of said process means sends a cassette transportation request when the one of said process means has processed the lot of semiconductor wafers;
• an instruction generation means coupled to said common communication line for generating a transportation instruction in response to the cassette transportation request;
• a transportation control means coupled to said common communication line for controlling a semiconductor wafer cassette transportation in response to the transportation instruction;
• a plurality of transportation means for transporting the semiconductor wafer cassette, wherein said transportation means are controlled by said transportation control means;
• and
• a plurality of stocker means coupled to said transportation control means for loading the semiconductor wafer cassette,
• wherein said transportation control means simultaneously activates one of said transportation means and one of said stocker means by simultaneously sending the transportation instruction to the one of said transportation means and the one of said stocker means if the semiconductor wafer cassette is transported from the one of said process means to the one of said stocker means by the one of said transportation means;
• said transportation control means further simultaneously activating the one of said transportation means and another process means by simultaneously sending the transportation instruction to the one of said transportation means and said another process means when the semiconductor wafer cassette is transported from the one of said process means to said another process means by the one of said transportation means.