What’s at stake?
Unfilled positions at U.S. fabs will soon exceed 100,000 engineers and technicians. The labor shortfall has prompted a growing number of chipmakers and equipment vendors to focus their recruiting efforts on military veterans. The challenge is translating skills learned on the battlefield to the factory floor.
By Peter Clarke
Over the last few years, with strong IC demand exceeding supply, wafer fab operators have put the pedal to the metal with major capital expenditures.
Read More »Beware the Semiconductor ‘Bullwhip Effect’
What’s at stake?
The CHIPS Act has become law, fueled by the political will to shore up America’s manufacturing and technological edge to counter China. The pandemic-induced global chip shortage helped generate bipartisan support for the new legislation as both government and industry came to the realization that decades of offshoring might have been a mistake. But ultimately, the CHIPS Act will be deemed successful only if it broadens the pipeline of U.S.-educated EEs who are trained and ready to step into jobs at the promised domestic facilities.
In 2017 Volvo promised self-driving cars for sale by 2021. Here’s what happened.
By Ron Wilson
What’s at stake?
Talking about building new fabs is easy and politically savvy. But the logistics of financing, constructing, equipping, staffing and operating a modern chip foundry are fraught with peril.
By Bolaji Ojo
Are the best days of Intel Corp. behind the microprocessor giant? This question begs for an honest answer after the company posted what can best be described as dismal second quarter results today with revenue, gross profit margins and operating margins plunging to depths unheard of in the company’s recent history. A small net loss completed the rout.
Read More »Intel Tripped by ‘Execution’ Challenges; Can it Rise Again?
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday (July 28) to approve subsidies designed to kickstart U.S. chip manufacturing. Twenty-four Republicans voted in favor of the measure, which provides $52 billion in industry incentives for chip manufacturing and research.
Read More »House Approves CHIPS Act
By Bolaji Ojo
Renesas Electronics Corp. entered the second half of 2022 significantly stronger than it began the year, but the automotive semiconductor giant is proceeding cautiously with future production and inventory plans and will be closely watching order patterns due to what executives see as substantial mismatches in orders and consumption patterns.
Read More »Renesas Grows but ‘Unbelievable’ Orders Trigger Concerns
Senate passage of semiconductor manufacturing subsidies as part of broader technology innovation legislation finesses fundamental differences on how to revive technology supply chains—the impetus behind the evolving CHIPS Act.
Read More »Senate Passes CHIPS Act, Final House Vote Looms
By David Benjamin
“Some Washington politicians support policies that will cause America’s most innovative companies to fall behind. These overreaching bills will strengthen our adversaries at a time when…” —American Edge TV ad
Read More »The Innovation Smokescreen
