This recorded webinar is the first in a series of webinars, “Smart Manufacturing Fireside Chat”. This webinar, an initiative of the SEMI Europe E2E Smart Manufacturing community, brings together leading industry voices to explore the real state of AI adoption in semiconductor manufacturing environments.
Moderated by Giovanni Notarnicola, semiconductor fab managers discussed:
- The true status of intelligent automation adoption in fabs
- Emerging applications of humanoid robots
- Lessons learned from GenAI pilots
- Key prerequisites for scaling digital solutions across fabs
- Expected operational and business impact
The first webinar, “From Hype to Impact: Intelligent Automation as Driver of Efficiency and Competitiveness,” was held and recorded on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Webinar Abstract:
How far has AI really advanced inside the fab—and what’s still holding it back?
As semiconductor manufacturers accelerate the shift toward smarter, more autonomous operations, a persistent gap remains between ambition and execution. The discussion will cut through the hype to examine where intelligent automation is already creating measurable impact, where limitations persist, and what it takes to scale solutions across both advanced and mature fabs.
It will explore the key priorities and challenges shaping smart manufacturing today, highlighting critical pain points alongside emerging opportunities for innovation and competitiveness.
Combining real-world experience with forward-looking perspectives, the conversation will span from early pilots to next-generation applications such as humanoid robots and intelligent orchestration, focusing on practical lessons learned and the technical and organizational enablers required to unlock value at scale.
Moderator:
Giovanni Notarnicola, Partner, Porsche Consulting
Panelists:
Jan Rothe, Director, Manufacturing Systems Architecture, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Johannes Sturm, Vice President, Data and Manufacturing Automation Frontend, Infineon Technologies
Reginald Warlop, CIO, imec
Samivel Krishnamoorthy, Sr. Director, Fab Automation & Integration, Black Semiconductor
Thomas Gimmig, Director of Industry 4.0, STMicroelectronics
Video
Watch the recording of the live webinar, held on June 23, 2026.