1. A method for predicting output characteristics of a device produced by a manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying one or more input parameters that cause a change in the output characteristics; (b) defining at least one cell having one or more extreme values defined by one or more values of the input parameters; (c) estimating output values at the one or more extreme values, wherein an output value numerically represents the output characteristics; (d) assigning at least one first mathematical function to each at least one cell, the at least one first mathematical function based on output values at the one or more extreme values configured to predict an output value for a given set of values of the input parameters within the assigned at least one cell; (e) receiving at least one empirical data point having empirical values for the input parameters and an empirical output value; and (f) adjusting the estimated output values at the one or more extreme values based on the empirical output value and a predicted output value calculated using the assigned at least one first mathematical function based on the empirical values for the input parameters, thereby allowing a numerical value for the output characteristics to be calculated using the at least one first mathematical function based on the adjusted estimated output value at the one or more extreme values.