TYPICAL QUESTIONS WE ANSWER:
- What is “best-in-class” for each of my performance parameters?
- How do I compare to “best-in-class”?
- How do I compare to my competitors?
- What is my competitor’s weakest area?
- How do my customers view my products?
- Which machine should I buy?
- Should I make this widget or buy it?
- What is the best alternative? Why?
EXAMPLE CONSULTING PROJECTS:
Click on the “Related Links” for more information
| Project Description | Company Description | Benefits | Related Links |
| Data collection and financial analysis | Chemical company | Strategic advantage | ACM Mar 2001, p.1 ACM Sep 2000, p.11 |
| Consolidate/simplify product design | Defense electronics | Reduce parts & options counts, costs | |
| Requirement gathering for implementing simulation modeling in their sales and marketing process | Electronic assembly equipment manufacturer | Data validation, verification | ACM Dec 1999, p. 1 |
| Cost analysis of test system and wafer prober combination | Equipment supplier | Combined COO | |
| Integrated analysis of Cost of Ownership for a new metrology inspection equipment and its impact throughout the fabrication process flow | Equipment supplier | Equipment performance impact to production | ACM Mar 1999, p.1 |
| Review and assess equipment designs for quality, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and maintainability | Equipment supplier | Higher quality, reliability, and safety; better maintainability and manufacturability; lower COO | Link to recommended book “Hi-tech Reliability” |
| Reliability predictions | Equipment supplier | Higher reliability; lower COO | |
| Reliability test, planning, and results analysis | Equipment supplier | Higher reliability; lower COO | |
| Develop quality and reliability goals and specifications | Equipment suppliers and users | Higher quality and reliability; lower COO | |
| Quality system assessment and training using standardized supplier quality assessment (SSQA) process | Equipment suppliers and users | Higher quality, reliability, and safety; lower COO | |
| Evaluate effectiveness of reliability improvement program | Equipment suppliers and users | Higher reliability; lower COO | |
| Created product costing models for three different flat panel display manufacturing technologies | FPD manufacturer | Strategic advantage | |
| Manufacturing site selection and planning | Internal use | ACM Jun 1999, p. 1 | |
| Estimate impacts of changes in marketing strategies on competitor’s revenue | Packaging supplier | Refine marketing strategy | ACM Mar 2000, p. 1 |
| Cost of ownership analysis comparing equipment for new gate process | Semiconductor manufacturing | Equipment with lower COO | |
| Cost of ownership analysis comparing new process and materials on photolithography | Semiconductor manufacturing | Justification of additional cost resulting in lower COO | ACM Fall 2005, p.1 |
| Comparison financial analysis to understand process cost impacts of planarization methods | Semiconductor materials supplier | Optimization | ACM Sep 1999, p.10 CMP Drivers |
| Assess and improve productivity of manufacturing operations | Semiconductor manufacturers | Reduce manufacturing cycle time and costs | ACM Fall 2006, p.1 |
| Assess relative technical/business strengths/weakness of semiconductor equipment manufacturers | Investment bank | Guide investment decisions |
