April 3, 2006 — /MARKET WIRE/ — AUSTIN, Texas — Japanese semiconductor leader Renesas Technology Corp. has joined the International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI), adding momentum to the two-year-old manufacturing-oriented microchip consortium, and increasing Renesas’ access to cutting-edge technology.
Taking its place alongside 12 other ISMI members, Renesas is sending assignees to work in programs that concentrate on helping chip manufacturers improve factory productivity and reduce cost per wafer, and ultimately cost per die. Semiconductor producers Panasonic, Spansion LLC, and Samsung also joined ISMI after its formation in January 2004 as a new consortium and wholly owned SEMATECH subsidiary. ISMI’s nine other members originated as SEMATECH member companies.
“We’re elated that a company as prominent as Renesas has chosen to join our roster of leading chip manufacturers,” said Scott Kramer, ISMI director. “Our membership now represents well over half of the world’s microchip production. That’s a powerful base for making positive and significant changes in the manufacturing end of this industry.”
Renesas cited ISMI’s programs in manufacturing productivity and benchmarking as its main reasons for joining the consortium.
ISMI’s core programs include fab productivity, equipment productivity, metrology, environment/safety/health, and next wafer size. The consortium conducts projects within those program areas, guided in the short term by installed base industry needs, and in the longer term by critical strategic manufacturing requirements defined by consortium members. Focused ISMI efforts in e-manufacturing, standards development, statistical methods and fab industry modeling have helped accelerate the realization of future factory needs of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS).
ISMI membership is open to all semiconductor manufacturers with fabs. Participating companies continuously evaluate and refresh the consortium’s program content, which includes cycle time reduction, equipment productivity improvement, and fab benchmarking.
About ISMI:
ISMI is a global alliance of the world’s major semiconductor manufacturers, dedicated to reducing cost per wafer, and ultimately cost per die, through cooperative programs focused on manufacturing effectiveness. The consortium conducts programs in manufacturing infrastructure, methods, standards, and productivity, with the aim of reducing the costs of producing finished wafers and chips and driving solutions to major productivity challenges. ISMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEMATECH of Austin, TX. http://ismi.sematech.org/corporate/index.htm.
ISMI Contact:
Dan McGowan
512-356-3440
[email protected]
SOURCE: International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative