IC layout optimization to improve yield

A computer readable medium, storing a program which when executed cause a computer to perform the following steps:

• identifying a critical area region of a design having at least one structure by comparing a plurality of manufacturability data to the design;
• defining a plurality of constraints, which bound the degree to which a change is made to the design, by
• providing a plurality of design rules;
• providing a plurality of design functionality requirements;
• identifying and storing a plurality of critical area data;
• and
• developing a plurality of objectives that satisfies the given rules and requirements using the critical area data;
• the plurality of objectives are selected from at least one of the group consisting of piece-wise linear, pair-wise, spacing, common run, critical area, and distance;
• and
• performing the change to the design, according to at least one of the plurality of objectives and bounded within the plurality of constraints, such that the critical area region of the design is reduced.