AMI Semiconductor Philippines, Inc. (AMIS) is next in line on the list of companies I will interview. AMIS is a leading designer and manufacturer of silicon solutions, such as integrated circuits or ICs, used in autmotive, medical, industrial, communications, computing, defense, and consumer products.
The company belongs to the semiconductor industry, which is the dominant sector of the electronics industry. It accounted for 57% of the total exports in 1999 amounting to $14.4B while representing only 12% of the total population of electronic companies during that year.
The semiconductor industry focuses on the manufacture of ICs. These are very small chips and weigh lightly. Large-scale integration ICs (LSI), for example, contain 1000 to 10,000 components per chip. Very large –scale integration IC’s (VLSI) contain up to 1 million components per chip, while ultra large-scale integration (ULSI) IC’s contain more than 1 million chips.
Thus we are talking here of minute products, each of which are vital to the development of an integral component of any electronic equipment. If Six Sigma can bring about significant improvements to the manufacture of large by-products, it can definitely effect the same to microchip development.
Nestor Raneses, AMIS Quality Director for Quality and Test Operations, wrote in his working paper submitted to the Society for the Advancement of Technology Management in the Philippines (SATMP) that productivity initiatives in the semiconductor industry includes the use of Six Sigma.
Because of the competitive pressures and dynamic technological advances in the industry, productivity improvement is a natural focus. Increasing throughputs, elimination of wastes, faster cycle times, and higher quality levels are consistent moving targets. High-leverage activities and “value-adding“ processes are constantly scrutinized and re-engineered. Best–known methods and technologies are regularly introduced and adapted. In improving processes and methods, the use of formal tools such as six sigma methodologies, statistical process controls, SMED ( single minute exchange of die ) system, automation and automation, computer-aided manufacturing, ergonomics, and agile manufacturing is very common.
Having this as background, I know my interview with them will be a useful, exciting one. Till then…
Source:
Measuring Productivity in the Semiconductor Industry
