September 29, 2003 – Fairchild Semiconductor, South Portland, ME, has completed the first phase of its new assembly and test facility in Suzhou, China. Half of the 800,000-square foot facility is now open, employing 570 people; by 2005 that will quadruple to nearly 2000. Fairchild expects the plant will save it as much as 30% on assembly and test costs compaed with outsourcing.