ARGOS Transforms Fab Operations with Data and Predictive Maintenance Service

Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions - a member of the global Busch Group - today announced ARGOS, an on-site machine learning and analytics service for semiconductor fabs that converts operational data into prioritized, risk-based actions to increase uptime, reduce total cost-of-ownership, and stabilize yield. This vendor-independent solution is anchored in data maturity and operational expertise.

ARGOS addresses a core industry reality. Predictive maintenance delivers value only when two foundations are strong: data maturity (trustworthy, timely, well-governed data) and operational expertise to run a predictive maintenance strategy (vacuum pump and abatement know-how, reliability engineering practices, and disciplined PDCA (plan-do-check-act) routines). If either is weak, machine learning signals remain on dashboards instead of driving outcomes. ARGOS has been built to close that gap.

ARGOS combines production-grade machine learning with decades of vacuum pump and abatement expertise. Multivariate models feed a disciplined reliability engineering service so that fabs act on the right risks at the right time. Instead of raw analytics, ARGOS delivers machine-learning-driven, expert-validated recommendations that become planned work: Signals translate into work orders, parts are pre-staged, and unplanned tasks become scheduled activities.

How ARGOS works

Data capture gateway

Through a data capture plug-and-play gateway, ARGOS ingests subfab telemetry and service events without disrupting tools. Installation is easy and takes just minutes.

Domain-informed machine learning models

Multivariate health index, anomaly detection and classification, and survival/remaining useful life (RUL) estimators are tuned to asset families and process conditions. They have been calibrated with physics--of- failure patterns and process- to- pump interactions.

Operational expertise and playbooks

Domain libraries and methods turn signals into outcomes. These methods include failure-physics and symptom-to-cause trees, process- to- pump duty classification and risk tiers by production consequence, FMEA (failure mode and effects analysis) action playbooks with plan-do-check-act routines, parts readiness and overhaul/EOL (end of life) criteria aligned to RUL windows, and service evidence capture to feed model improvement.

Risk engine

A risk engine combines a machine-learning-estimated likelihood of a failure with the consequence it would have on production to produce a ranked risk list and next best actions.

Continuous learning

The ARGOS models are continuously learning and are retrained with service outcomes. RUL accuracy, false positive rates and alert precision are tracked for continuous improvement over time.

Decision packages

Weekly and monthly deliverables translate model outputs into scheduled work, EOL recommendations, and key performance indicator (KPI) updates aligned to availability targets.

Vendor-independent by design

ARGOS uses open, standards-based interfaces for data import and export, enabling no vendor lock-in and full portability of data and models. The service operates entirely on the premises, keeping sensitive fab data under customer control.
What fabs receive

o A weekly machine-learning driven risk report focused on high consequence assets.
o A next-best action queue with timing, parts, and prerequisites.
o KPI tracking to show availability, MTBF (mean time between failure)/MTTR (mean time to repair), planned-work ratio, downtime avoided, and RUL accuracy. In addition, false-positive rates and alert precision are continuously monitored as method KPIs.
o Periodic readiness checks and maturity lift actions across data and methods.
o A data-and-skills maturity assessment upon deployment to verify ROI conditions and tune model training to the local installed base.

Dr. Sandra Thirtle-H?ck
Head of Communications Busch Group
Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions
Berliner Strasse 43
35614 Asslar, Germany

+49 (0)6441 802 - 1460
sandra.hoeck@pfeiffer-vacuum.com
www.pfeiffer-vacuum.com
www.buschgroup.com

About the Busch Group
The Busch Group is one of the world's largest manufacturers of vacuum pumps, vacuum systems, blowers, compressors and gas abatement systems. Under its umbrella, the group houses two well-known brands: Busch Vacuum Solutions and Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions. The gas abatement systems previously offered by centrotherm clean solutions - a former Busch Group brand - are now part of the Pfeiffer portfolio.

The extensive product and service offer includes solutions for vacuum, overpressure and abatement applications in all industries, such as food, semiconductors, analytics, chemicals and plastics. This also includes the design and construction of tailor-made vacuum systems and a worldwide service network.

The Busch Group is a family business that is managed by the Busch family. More than 8,000 employees in 44 countries worldwide work for the group. Busch is headquartered in Maulburg, Baden-W?rttemberg, in the tri-country region of Germany, France and Switzerland. The Busch Group manufactures in its 23 own production plants in China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and Vietnam.

The Busch Group has an annual consolidated revenue of close to 2 billion Euro.

This release was published on openPR.