Predictika · Lithography scanner orders

An AI sales agent's scanner order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for TWINSCAN DUV and EUV lithography scanners, in euros. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the configuration and commercial rules, compares the total the quote states with the computed one, and returns every finding together with the line-item quote. This is an illustrative model built from public product information with estimated prices; it is not ASML's internal rule set.

Scope: orders for TWINSCAN DUV and EUV lithography scanners (NXT:870, 1470, 2000i, 2100i, NXE:3800E and EXE:5200), with options, installation and service. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one slice of semiconductor equipment sales: an order for lithography scanners with its options, installation and qualification, and a service agreement. It handles any combination of these scanner models, nodes, regions and service terms, not only the scenarios shown on this page. It does not cover metrology or other product lines, real prices, financing, freight or tax.

  • Covered: fit to the process — resolution against the feature the layer needs, multi-patterning, effective throughput, scanner count from the wafer plan, overlay and the productivity package.
  • Covered: the fab and the rules around it — facility power, export control by region, EUV service, service term, lead time and production slot swaps.
  • Covered: commercial terms — discount authority by order size, the line-item quote, and the total the agent states.
  • Labeled as assumptions — every price, specification and limit is an illustrative estimate based on public information, not an ASML list.
The AI sales agentBuilds the scanner order quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

9 scenarios in 4 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Scanner count from the wafer planOnly with workarounds
The count depends on wafer starts, layers and an effective throughput that changes with multi-patterning and the productivity package, so a rules-based tool needs a table for each combination.		The count is computed once from the plan and the effective throughput, and the finding states what is needed against what is quoted.
Node reach with multi-patterningOnly with care
Whether a scanner can print a feature depends on its type and on the multi-patterning choice, and the same choice halves the throughput.		Resolution, throughput and scanner count are derived from the same choice, so the effects stay consistent.
Export control by region and classOnly with workarounds
The outcome is a block for some pairs and an approval for others, which a rules-based tool handles as one long list of pair rules.		Region and export class are attributes of the quote and the scanner, and the validator returns a block or an approval with the reason.
Delivery date against lead timeOnly with care
A date can be fine, need a production slot swap, or be impossible, and each outcome routes differently.		The three outcomes come from one comparison, and the approval is listed as a finding rather than a failed check.
Discount authority by order sizeOnly with care
The allowed discount and the approver both depend on the number of scanners.		The tier is derived from the quantity, and a discount between the account manager limit and the tier maximum is an approval.
Total the agent statesOnly with workarounds
A validation rule can compare a stated figure with a calculated one only if the stated figure is a field on the quote, which it rarely is.		The stated total travels with the quote and is compared with the computed total on every call; a mismatch is its own block.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The critical feature the layer needs must be within the scanner's resolution; multi-patterning extends ArF immersion scanners to a finer feature.
2Multi-patterning is quoted on ArF immersion scanners only.
3Effective throughput is the rated wafers per hour, plus the productivity enhancement package where it is offered, divided by the number of exposures per layer.
4The scanner count must cover the wafer plan: wafer starts per month times critical layers, divided by 576 productive hours and the effective throughput, rounded up.
5Overlay, with the advanced overlay option where chosen, must meet the process requirement.
6The productivity enhancement package is offered on some models only.
7Export control by region and export class: EUV to China is blocked; advanced immersion to China and EUV to other regions need an export license review, which is an approval.
8Facility power must cover the number of tools times the power of each tool.
9EUV systems must be sold with a Full or Full Uptime service agreement.
10The service term must be 3 to 10 years.
11Lead time: a delivery date more than 3 months shorter than the lead time is blocked, and one up to 3 months shorter needs a production slot swap approval.
12Discount authority by order size: an account manager may give 2 percent, and the maximum is 2, 5 or 8 percent for orders of 1-2, 3-9 or 10 or more scanners; anything between needs approval.
13The price is built from the catalog: scanners, options, discount, installation and qualification (3 percent of list for DUV, 5 percent for EUV) and service (a percent of list per year by level, plus an EUV uplift). The total the agent states must match the computed total to within one euro; otherwise the quote is blocked.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Wafer fab order: Three scanners, seven problems

    
The agent's request. Please quote three TWINSCAN NXE:3800E EUV scanners for the Halvorsen Wafer Works fab in South Korea, with multi-patterning for a 13 nm critical feature and a 1.2 nm overlay requirement: 40,000 wafer starts per month over 12 critical layers, 4,500 kW of facility power, Basic service for 12 years, a 6 percent discount, and delivery within 12 months. The quote states a total of €1,123,200,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated total does not match. The stated quote total of €1,123,200,000.00 does not match the validator total of €1,170,000,000.00.
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  • Multi-patterning only on ArF immersion scanners. Multi-patterning flows are quoted on ArF immersion scanners only.
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  • Not enough scanners for the wafer plan. 40,000 wafer starts x 12 layers need 8 scanners at 110 wafers per hour effective; 3 quoted.
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  • EUV needs a Full or Full Uptime service agreement. EUV systems must be sold with a Full or Full Uptime service agreement.
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  • Service term out of range. Service term 12 years is outside the 3 to 10 year range.
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  • Cannot deliver in time. Lead time is about 18 months; the customer needs the tools in 12 months, more than a 3 month slot swap can recover.
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  • Discount above the maximum for this order size. 6 percent discount exceeds the 5 percent maximum for a 3 scanner order.
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2. Wafer fab order: Four scanners, power now short

    
The agent's request. Please quote four TWINSCAN NXE:3800E EUV scanners for the Halvorsen Wafer Works fab in South Korea, for a 13 nm critical feature and a 1.2 nm overlay requirement: 40,000 wafer starts per month over 12 critical layers, 4,500 kW of facility power, Full service for 10 years, a 4 percent discount, and delivery within 12 months. The quote states a total of €1,688,000,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Not enough facility power. 4 tools need 1,400 kW each; the fab has 4,500 kW available.
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  • Cannot deliver in time. Lead time is about 18 months; the customer needs the tools in 12 months, more than a 3 month slot swap can recover.
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  • Discount needs approval. 4 percent discount is above the 2 percent an account manager can give; approvable up to 5 percent.
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3. Wafer fab order: Power and delivery fixed

    
The agent's request. Please quote four TWINSCAN NXE:3800E EUV scanners for the Halvorsen Wafer Works fab in South Korea, for a 13 nm critical feature and a 1.2 nm overlay requirement: 40,000 wafer starts per month over 12 critical layers, 6,000 kW of facility power, Full service for 10 years, a 2 percent discount, and delivery within 18 months. The quote states a total of €1,704,000,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Quote summary. Total €1,704,000,000.00: scanners €800,000,000.00; discount less €16,000,000.00; installation €40,000,000.00; service €880,000,000.00.
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4. Service agreement: High-NA with Basic service for 12 years

    
The agent's request. Please quote one TWINSCAN EXE:5200 High-NA EUV scanner for the Kestrel Photonics Research R&D line in the Netherlands: an 8 nm critical feature, 10,000 wafer starts per month over 4 layers, 2,500 kW of facility power, Basic service for 12 years, and delivery within 26 months. The quote states a total of €763,800,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • EUV needs a Full or Full Uptime service agreement. EUV systems must be sold with a Full or Full Uptime service agreement.
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  • Service term out of range. Service term 12 years is outside the 3 to 10 year range.
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5. Service agreement: High-NA with Full service for 10 years

    
The agent's request. Please quote one TWINSCAN EXE:5200 High-NA EUV scanner for the Kestrel Photonics Research R&D line in the Netherlands: an 8 nm critical feature, 10,000 wafer starts per month over 4 layers, 2,500 kW of facility power, Full service for 10 years, and delivery within 26 months. The quote states a total of €817,000,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Quote summary. Total €817,000,000.00: scanners €380,000,000.00; installation €19,000,000.00; service €418,000,000.00.
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6. Stated total: Stated total is low

    
The agent's request. Please quote three TWINSCAN NXT:2100i ArF immersion scanners for the Brindle Microelectronics fab in Korea: multi-patterning for a 10 nm feature with the advanced overlay option for a 1.2 nm overlay requirement, 30,000 wafer starts per month over 8 layers, 600 kW of facility power, Basic service for five years, and delivery within 16 months. The quote states a total of €299,449,500.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated total does not match. The stated quote total of €299,449,500.00 does not match the validator total of €315,210,000.00.
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7. Stated total: Correct total stated

    
The agent's request. Please quote three TWINSCAN NXT:2100i ArF immersion scanners for the Brindle Microelectronics fab in Korea: multi-patterning for a 10 nm feature with the advanced overlay option for a 1.2 nm overlay requirement, 30,000 wafer starts per month over 8 layers, 600 kW of facility power, Basic service for five years, and delivery within 16 months. The quote states a total of €315,210,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Quote summary. Total €315,210,000.00: scanners €225,000,000.00; options €12,000,000.00; installation €7,110,000.00; service €71,100,000.00.
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8. Delivery date: Needed in 9 months

    
The agent's request. Please quote one TWINSCAN NXT:2100i ArF immersion scanner for the Harrowgate Devices fab in the US: a 38 nm critical feature, a 1.5 nm overlay requirement, 20,000 wafer starts per month over 5 layers, 300 kW of facility power, Basic service for five years, and delivery within 9 months. The quote states a total of €99,750,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Cannot deliver in time. Lead time is about 14 months; the customer needs the tools in 9 months, more than a 3 month slot swap can recover.
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9. Delivery date: Needed in 12 months

    
The agent's request. Please quote one TWINSCAN NXT:2100i ArF immersion scanner for the Harrowgate Devices fab in the US: a 38 nm critical feature, a 1.5 nm overlay requirement, 20,000 wafer starts per month over 5 layers, 300 kW of facility power, Basic service for five years, and delivery within 12 months. The quote states a total of €99,750,000.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Needs a production slot swap. Delivery in 12 months is inside the 14 month lead time; a production slot swap needs supply-chain approval.
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  • Quote summary. Total €99,750,000.00: scanners €75,000,000.00; installation €2,250,000.00; service €22,500,000.00.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a quote for TWINSCAN DUV and EUV lithography scanners, in euros. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the configuration and commercial rules, compares the total the quote states with the computed one, and returns every finding together with the line-item quote. This is an illustrative model built from public product information with estimated prices; it is not ASML's internal rule set.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote three TWINSCAN NXE:3800E EUV scanners for the Halvorsen Wafer Works fab in South Korea, with multi-patterning for a 13 nm critical feature and a 1.2 nm overlay requirement: 40,000 wafer starts per month over 12 critical layers. The quote states a total of €1,123,200,000.00. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with seven findings, all in one answer. The stated quote total of €1,123,200,000.00 does not match the validator total of €1,170,000,000.00. Multi-patterning flows are quoted on ArF immersion scanners only. 40,000 wafer starts x 12 layers need 8 scanners at 110 wafers per hour effective; 3 quoted. The other four are on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned seven blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other and against the stated total.
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  7. What this shows: for scanner count from the wafer plan, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the scanners quoted to 4, the discount requested to 4 percent, the service to full, the service term to 10 years and the stated total to 1,688,000,000 EUR. It removes the multi-patterning.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Still blocked, with two findings and one approval, all in one answer. 4 tools need 1,400 kW each; the fab has 4,500 kW available. Lead time is about 18 months; the customer needs the tools in 12 months, more than a 3 month slot swap can recover.
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  12. Six findings cleared; still blocked on cannot deliver in time, and newly found: not enough facility power.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the fab power to 6,000 kW, the discount requested to 2 percent, the months until needed to 18 and the stated total to 1,704,000,000 EUR.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with TWINSCAN NXE:3800E EUV and Installation and qualification; the other two lines are on screen.
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  18. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, €1,704,000,000.00, matches the quote.
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  19. Seven problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    20.