METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESS OPTIMIZATION VIA AMBIENT CONDITION FORECASTING

A method is provided for determining whether a future time period for performing a future process run is satisfactory. The process run employs process equipment disposed within an interior space. In a first step a relationship is obtained between an environmental condition within the interior space and an environmental condition exterior to the interior space. In a second step a future value representative of the environmental condition exterior to the interior space during the future time period is obtained. In a third step a predicted value representative of the environmental condition within the interior space during the future time period is determined by comparing the future value obtained in step (b) to the relationship obtained in step (a). Next the predicted value determined in step (c) is compared to a reference. It is then determined from the comparison whether the future time period for performing the future process run is satisfactory.