This blog was originally posted on cimetrix.com
The Challenge of Time Shifts
Daylight savings time always seems to throw a wrench into my schedule. With customers and colleagues spread across the globe, the lack of uniformity in time adjustments makes it difficult to stay aligned. Some regions shift their clocks, others don’t, and the result is a temporary—but very real—disconnect. It’s almost inevitable that I’ll miss a meeting or overlook an important event during this transition period.
This got me thinking: in a world where timing is everything, how do we ensure that our systems—and our teams—stay in sync?
SEMI E148 and the Importance of Time Synchronization
In the semiconductor industry, timing isn’t just about meetings—it’s about data. SEMI® standard E148 was developed to address this very issue. It defines software standards for equipment communication interfaces, enabling control computers to automatically synchronize their clocks with a standard time base.
While E148 is relatively new as a formal standard, the technology behind it is well-established. For over two decades, computer systems have used the Network Time Protocol (NTP)—also known as RFC1305—to synchronize with reference clocks, often linked to atomic time sources like the one in Colorado. SEMI E148 adopts NTP as the mechanism for aligning equipment control computers with factory systems, ensuring consistency across the board.
Why Synchronization Is Critical for Manufacturing
Modern factories rely on vast amounts of data collected from every run on every tool. To make sense of this data, it’s essential that all sources share a common time base. Without synchronized clocks, correlating events and analyzing performance becomes a guessing game.
Imagine trying to investigate a manufacturing anomaly. The first question is always: “When did that happen?” If your systems aren’t aligned, you may never get a clear answer. That’s why time synchronization isn’t just a technical detail—it’s a foundational requirement for effective data analysis and decision-making.
NTP: A Simple Yet Powerful Solution
Fortunately, most modern operating systems come with built-in NTP client software. Synchronizing with reliable time servers is straightforward, and commercial solutions are widely available. Even if manufacturers don’t implement every aspect of SEMI E148, adopting NTP across factory networks is becoming increasingly common—and necessary.
As more factories embrace data-driven operations, the need for precise and unified timekeeping will only grow. Whether it’s through SEMI E148 or other synchronization strategies, staying in sync is no longer optional—it’s essential.