semiconductors

There is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. But most electronic industry time series will likely struggle at least though autumn.

The typical winter “seasonal slowdown” is now behind us. What can we expect as the year progresses? 

In 2016, the then-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban-Ki Moon, stated “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth. These are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment.” The SEMI Talent Forum, 2-3 May, 2019 in Bristol, UK will explore new opportunities and challenges of the digital era and the industry’s need for talent and the knowledge and skills in automation, computerization and digitization to drive tech innovation. Serena Brischetto of SEMI spoke with professor Michael Czerniak, Environmental Solutions Business Development Manager at Edwards, about how digitalization impacts all these key areas and will be instrumental in helping humanity shape the future. SEMI: The preservation of the global environment and the talent shortage are probably two of the most critical challenges confronting the semiconductor industry. What is the Edwards position on these issues? Czerniak: When I started in the industry, climate change was a new concept and scientific investigation was in its infancy. Now it is a well-understood phenomenon and its impacts will only be minimised by the implementation of better technologies, nearly all of which depend on digital technology and a talented workforce to drive new innovation. This is mission-critical not only to Edwards, but also to the digital industry, and indeed our common future.SEMI: Edwards celebrates 100 years of empowering innovative people. How do you help electronics shape the future and advance life standards? What is your secret recipe?Czerniak: Edwards plays a key role in enabling semiconductor manufacturers by making the electronic circuits, also commonly known as chips, on which the Digital Age is built. Our secret recipe is: nothing! We literally have no molecules at all, i.e. vacuum, which enables the intricate processes like plasma chemistry taking place. Those are the processes used to sequentially deposit and remove the thin films that constitute a modern semiconductor device. We also remove harmful and global-warming gas exhausts from these processes to minimise the environmental impact of this amazing industry.SEMI: What is stimulating about semiconductors and could you give us an example of how Edwards is helping remove harmful and global-warming gases?Czerniak: I work in environmental science both at Edwards and also here in Bristol in the School of Chemistry. My least-favorite gas is called CF4. Not only is it thousands of times more impactful as a global warming gas, but also it has an atmospheric lifetime of 50,000 years. Using abatement technology pioneered by Edwards, emissions of this gas into the atmosphere produced by this industry, have been reduced by up to 95%. That’s certainly something to make you feel good about after a day at work!SEMI: Edwards was honored with the SEMI Diversity and Inclusion award and also for the company's 100th anniversary at the Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS) Europe in Milan in early April. What is particularly exciting about Edwards?Czerniak: Edwards is and always has been a very inclusive place to work, not least because it is a global company, reflecting the scope and geographical reach of the semiconductor industry as a whole. This provides a great variety of career paths locally at one of our many global manufacturing sites, or on a global scale, as we need to be where our customers are.SEMI: What are your expectations regarding the forum in Bristol, and for the future ahead? What is the status of the semiconductor workforce development scenario in your opinion? What can we do more?Czerniak: My main hope for the Talent Forum in Bristol is that the profile of the semiconductor industry will be raised amongst students considering their future career options to the point where they seriously consider applying for positions in this field. This applies to students from all disciplines as they are all needed to help develop the Digital Age, and more events like this can only help spread the message about the exciting opportunities and challenges available.Michael Czerniak started his professional career in the semiconductor industry with Philips, initially in the company’s UK R+D labs and subsequently in the fab in Nijmegen, Holland. He then held marketing roles at UK-based OEMs Cambridge Instruments, VSW and VG Semicon before joining Edwards 21 years ago. Michael has authored numerous published articles and patents, co-chairs a SEMI standards committee, participates in the IRDS, is a UK PFC expert on IPCC and has authored chapters on Vacuum and Environmental issues in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Handbook. Michael became a Professor in the School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol in September 2018. Serena Brischetto is a marketing and communications manager at SEMI Europe.

When will the memory market likely show signs of bottoming out? Following is an analysis of the current memory climate using the Memory Inventory Cycle Index introduced in this SEMI two-part article series in October 2018.

The turnaround is not “around the corner” but at least we can follow its progress!

Driven by the increased complexity of leading edge fabs and the growing vacuum intensity of semiconductor manufacturing, both the volume and the value of critical subsystems for this part of the market is on the rise.

Semiconductor, electronics and equipment manufacturers today face a number of logistics and supply chain challenges that could be overcome by systems providing a secure, tamper-resistant, single source of truth. Chief among these challenges is limited data sharing due to data security barriers among suppliers, shippers, manufacturers and test houses, an impediment to achieving optimal product quality and regulatory compliance. Additionally, inefficient and inadequate processes for tracking goods make it more difficult to isolate shipping problems, track faulty parts and verify product authenticity. Counterfeiting has become a serious problem that costs US-based semiconductor manufacturers $7.5 billion annually.How Blockchain Can Help Clear Data Sharing BottlenecksBlockchain functions could help alleviate many data sharing pain points in manufacturing. Blockchain’s distributed functionality, bundled security measures, and associated features such as smart contracts have the potential to help manufacturers quickly trace goods, manage records transparently, and automate supply chain processes and payments. No isolated blockchain platform would solve all of these problems on its own. But, when combined with other solutions and applied to particular use cases, blockchain has the potential to optimize operations and foster an environment of trust and collaboration among consortium members. Three core features of blockchain make it a valuable technology for manufacturing: Distributed and immutable system of record. With a distributed system of record in the blockchain network, there is no "central" data store controlled by one organization. The distributed ledger provides all participants with a view into the data, thus increasing transparency, data distribution timeliness, information sharing, and data access. Security also improves as there is no single central data store open to external attacks. Once data is inserted onto the chain, it cannot be easily changed. Security and Trust. Blockchain integrates best-of-breed cryptographic mechanisms to guarantee the digital identity of the network participants and secure the privacy of the data stored to enable role-based data access. It brings trust to a potentially trustless environment without the need for a centralized third party. Smart Contracts. Smart contracts are embedded business logic that can be added to a blockchain. They enable the automation of many processes and the secure handling of contracts. Blockchain Use Cases in ManufacturingIn each stage of manufacturing, blockchain could be applied in a variety of use cases to expedite processes and alleviate security issues. A few examples that merely scratch the surface of what may be possible follow.In pre-production, manufacturers may implement blockchain solutions for Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR). These systems monitor inventory levels, enabling suppliers to replenish supplies before they run low. The expensive, proprietary B2B networks used today could be replaced with blockchain as the common sharing protocol, using non-proprietary or public networks.Suppliers may also combine blockchain with IoT sensors on shipping containers to provide a tamper-resistant record of shipping conditions. This could be used to ensure that temperature and humidity tolerances for chemicals and equipment are not exceeded during transit from the supplier. The identity and materials in components and subcomponents of manufacturing equipment could be collected on a blockchain to verify compliance with environmental and health regulations. During production, a manufacturing process machine can be registered on a blockchain with a unique identity; its performance and maintenance history can be recorded. A maintenance service provider could then be automatically notified, via a smart contract, when a predictive maintenance alert is written, allowing repair of machines before they fail. In the distribution stage, customers could search the ledger for a product’s complete history, reducing counterfeiting and solidifying the origin of properly sourced goods. When faulty product is identified, the manufacturer may search the ledger to quickly locate the faulty supplier or bad test results and alert all receivers of the defective product.ConclusionWith blockchain, manufacturing can become a more collaborative process among suppliers, manufacturers and customers. Blockchain can help streamline the supply chain and inventory replenishment, improve tracking and regulatory compliance, and reduce counterfeiting. Augmenting blockchain with IoT enables use cases like predictive maintenance and monitoring of goods during transit. Blockchain is not yet mature and its business value still needs to be proven. However, it is poised to help manufacturers decrease costs and fraud, and provide customers with faster, more secure delivery, increased visibility, and consistency.More Resources on Blockchain and ManufacturingTibco is an active member of SEMI’s Smart Manufacturing Technology Community, which holds regular meetings on this and other topics. Join now to help shape the future of Smart Manufacturing. For more information on blockchain use cases in manufacturing, please see these resources. Read this Whitepaper: Blockchain and Manufacturing: A Match Made in the Factory Watch this Webinar: Blockchain and Manufacturing - A Match Made in the Factory Visit the TIBCO Blockchain Solutions page Mike Alperin is a TIBCO principal manufacturing industry consultant embedded in the Data Science team where he applies analytics, machine learning and big data technology to current industry problems. Prior to this he was the product manager for a leading commercial yield management application. He has worked at start-ups and global semiconductor manufacturing companies as a yield manager, device engineer, process engineer and failure analyst. Mike is based in Austin, Texas.

SEMI is excited to recognize Katie Maloney of Edwards Vacuum as the SEMI Spotlight on Women Honoree for Q1 2019!Spotlight on SEMI Women celebrates the many accomplished women who work in the global microelectronics industry. Nominees in the quarterly spotlight include women who are beacons of knowledge, leaders of organizations and initiatives, hidden heroes and innovators in our industry. They are volunteers, protectors, intellectual disruptors and activists. Learn how you can nominate a woman for Spotlight on SEMI Women.With nearly 20 years in the microelectronics industry, Katie Maloney has always been a leader and agent of change. She launched her career pathway as a student at the University of Notre Dame on an ROTC scholarship. Her passion for science and technology led to a degree in aerospace engineering. After graduation, Katie began her military commission in the United States Navy as a Division Officer and Command Training Manager within the Nuclear Engineering school. Katie ultimately decided she wanted to manage people while continuing to focus on technology as a fundamental aspect of her career. Driven by a vision for her future, Katie worked full-time and attended the University of Central Florida, earning a master’s degree in engineering management. Katie’s leadership continued to shine despite her workload, and during Katie’s commission the U.S. Navy recognized her for multiple accomplishments. Most notably Katie was awarded “Instructor of the Year” for her classroom teaching.Katie’s journey at Edwards Vacuum began 10 years ago as a site manager for its largest customer. Through her strong leadership skills, Katie has made a difference at Edwards Vacuum, exemplified the semiconductor industry skill set, and helped customers meet their goals. The Edwards executive management team has recognized Katie’s creative thinking. After her recent promotion to business line manager responsible for a Global Account team, Katie put her ideas and leadership to work by mobilizing her team to drive significant improvements in EUV development, contract management and team building at Edwards. Katie’s military experience shaped her career, a formative influence that inspired her passion early on to support military veterans by helping them transition from military to civilian life. She understands the valuable skillsets veterans bring to the microelectronics industry and she dedicates time to help them understand how their skills can translate into opportunities.Cristina Sandoval is manager of Workforce Development at SEMI.

Technologies promising huge growth such as Artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, machine learning, high-performance computing, and telematics are ratcheting up pressure on semiconductor manufacturers in the race among product makers to accelerate time to market and capture share. To support rapidly evolving end markets for these and other technologies that are key drivers of industry growth, chipmakers are boosting semiconductor performance, producing more wafer sizes and improving manufacturing efficiency.At the same time, chip manufacturers must enable unprecedented end-product reliability for exploding markets such as automotive and healthcare markets where, with lives at stake, products can’t afford even the slightest lapse in reliability. In response, chip suppliers are retooling their manufacturing processes to support 3D stacking, package-level integration and miniaturization. But they must do more. Bringing high efficiency to all phases of manufacturing including design and materials is the new imperative. The key to quality management is not in the traditional post-production testing and damage control but in prevention. Delivering the highest quality and reliability must start in the earliest stages of production with manufacturing and testing design – an approach that reduces not only the cost of downstream testing but minimizes product defects that can damage a supplier’s credibility and lead to lost business.To that end, SEMI has launched its Quality Assurance Special Interest Group (SIG) consisting of representatives from industry leaders such as Infineon, NXP, TSMC, UMC, ASE, Unimicron, and GCE. The group's goal is to establish quality requirements spanning the supply chain to meet new, higher reliability standards and help safeguard Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global microelectronics industry. Meeting for the first time earlier this month, the companies exchanged ideas for improving quality management in semiconductor manufacturing and ultimately deliver the reliability the market needs.The company representatives unanimously agreed that the first step is to ensure a QA-friendly environment with quality requirements for various stages of chipmaking ranging from design, manufacturing, packaging and testing to even PCB and CCL production. The SEMI Quality Assurance SIG this year plans to build on its current membership by enlisting companies from various fields to address critical areas of reliability including statistical process control, surface-mount-technology-based board level reliability control, and 0 dppm quality control for automotive chips. SEMI Quality Assurance Special Interest Group consists of leading companies in the industry, including Infineon, NXP, TSMC, UMC, ASE, Unimicron, and GCE. “SEMI’s comprehensive platform of exhibitions, programs, forums, trade meetings and matchmaking events is instrumental in bringing together key industry players to enhance quality management practices and meet the growing reliability requirements of the end markets we serve,” said Terry Tsao, chief marketing officer at SEMI and president of SEMI Taiwan. “The Quality Assurance Special Interest Group is a shining example of how SEMI continues to support the crucial role of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry in the international community.”For more information about the SEMI Quality Assurance Special Interest Group or to become a member, please contact Emmy Yi at [email protected] Yi is a marketing specialist at SEMI Taiwan.

Yesterday, President Trump extended the deadline for List 3, which would have raised U.S. tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods from China. SEMI welcomes the deadline extension.Over the past three months, the United States and China have engaged in bilateral discussions to address structural issues like intellectual property protection and requirements for the use of joint ventures as well as trade balance concerns. President Trump announced that these talks have yielded significant and substantial progress in all areas. That said, it’s been reported that discussions on structural issues, such as forced technology transfer, have seen limited progress.Certainly, questions remain on the specifics of liberalization, the structure of the agreement and, most notably, enforcement. Any new commitment will be toothless without a firm and binding enforcement mechanism. While the date of the new deadline hasn’t been clarified, we believe that the tariffs won’t be increased before Presidents Trump and Xi meet, which could happen in late March at Mar-a-Lago.List 3 covers a range of items, including a number of consumer goods, but also directly impacts items critical to the semiconductor manufacturing process, including materials and machines. SEMI estimates that all U.S. and Chinese retaliatory tariffs – which hit machines and tools central to the semiconductor industry, including equipment used to manufacture wafers, boules, and chips as well as test, inspection and sensing equipment – will cost members more than $700 million in annual duties.While SEMI strongly supports stronger protections for valuable intellectual property (IP), tariffs will not help address Chinese trade practices and will ultimately have significant and unintended consequences. SEMI asserts that these tariffs will harm companies in the semiconductor supply chain by increasing business costs, introducing uncertainty, and stifling innovation. The tariffs seem to target U.S. firms for simply operating in China.Given that chips, tools, and materials are extremely complex, precise, and difficult to manufacture, it is not reasonable to believe that any component can easily be replaced with a part from another source. Further, this U.S. government approach does not take into account that many items subject to these tariffs are not available, at sufficient quality and cost, from domestic sources, or even non-Chinese sources. We stand steadfast in our belief that this trade action will raise prices, put thousands of high-paying and high skill jobs at risk, and curb growth.SEMI will continue monitoring new developments in this area. Any SEMI members with questions should contact Jay Chittooran, Global Public Policy Manager at SEMI, at [email protected].