EXHIBIT 99.1


                                  CERTIFICATION

     Pursuant to the requirement set forth in Section 906 of the Corporate Fraud
Accountability Act of 2002, Stephen S. Schwartz hereby certifies to the best of
his knowledge as follows:

     -  He is the duly appointed Chief Executive Officer, of Asyst Technologies,
Inc., a California corporation (the "Company").

     -  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 2002, and to which this Certification is attached as Exhibit 99.1
(the "Periodic Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the
Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of the Company.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand hereto as of this 12th
day of November, 2002.

                                              /s/ Stephen S. Schwartz
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   STEPHEN S. SCHWARTZ,  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER