Patent attributes
Occurrence of a process abnormality in a semiconductor processing apparatus is obtained by obtaining an index of a processing size of each of wafers within an X-th lot, in which the X represents an integer, based on data obtained during processing of each of the wafers of the X-th lot, obtaining an index of a processing size of each of wafers within an X+1-th lot, based on data thereof and anticipating an index of a processing sizes of each of wafers within an X+2-th lot, based on the index obtained as to each of the wafers of the X-th lot and the X+1-th lot. A process abnormality occurring during the processing of a wafer of the X+2-th lot is anticipated when the anticipated index of the X+2-th lot exceeds an allowance range.