Wright Williams & Kelly, Inc. Reexamines 450mm Wafer Fab Economics

Addendum looks at sensitivity analyses for capacity, throughput, and silicon costs

May 21, 2008 (Pleasanton, CA) – Wright Williams & Kelly, Inc. (WWK), a cost & productivity management software and consulting services company, announced today the availability of an addendum to its report examining the cost structures of 300mm and 450mm wafer fabs. The report can be ordered directly from WWK at http://www.wwk.com/450order.pdf and will come with both the original report and the addendum looking at sensitivity analyses for fab capacity, key equipment throughput, and raw wafer costs.

In April 2007, WWK conducted a survey of semiconductor industry professionals asking, among other things, about the expected arrival date of 450mm wafers. The most common answer was 2013 or later, which was the last date specific choice. However, WWK was surprised when nearly 40% answered that 450mm wafers would never happen. Subsequently, WWK looked closer at 450mm wafers and semiconductor manufacturing economics. The findings of that study are presented in the report, “An Economic Comparison of 450mm and 300mm Fabs.” The 2008 follow up survey can be downloaded at http://www.wwk.com/2008survey.pdf. The survey results will be tabulated and provided to all participants free of charge.

“Given the historical framework of the introduction of 300mm wafers and the dire impact that had on the supply base, it is easy to see why equipment companies are taking a hard line on who will pay for the next wafer size,” states Daren Dance, Vice President of Technology at WWK. “We have examined the issue of transitioning from 300mm to 450mm wafers from an unbiased perspective that is neither funded nor supported by suppliers, IDMs, or foundries. This report is the first independent examination of the economic and other driving factors that either support or refute the 450mm move. Based on comments from readers of the original report, we examined additional key sensitivities to see under what conditions 450mm might make sense.”

With more than 3,000 users worldwide, Wright Williams & Kelly, Inc. is the largest privately held operational cost management software and consulting company serving technology-dependent and technology-driven organizations. WWK maintains long-term relationships with prominent industry resources including SEMATECH, SELETE, Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), and national labs and universities. Its client base includes nearly all of the top 20 semiconductor manufacturers and equipment and materials suppliers as well as leaders in nanotechnology, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), thin film record heads (TFH), magnetic media, flat panel displays (FPD), and photovoltaics (PV).

In addition to its professional consulting and market research services, WWK’s product line includes TWO COOL® for detailed process step level cost of ownership (COO) and overall equipment efficiency (OEE), PRO COOL® for process flow and test cell costing, Factory Commander® for full factory capacity analysis and activity based costing, and Factory Explorer® for cycle time reduction and WIP planning. Additionally, WWK offers a highly flexible product management software package that helps sales forces eliminate errors in product configuration and quotation processes.

Call today for more information from Wright Williams & Kelly, Inc. Providing software solutions for productivity measurement and enhancement since 1991.