Manufacturing science and manufacturing competitiveness

Abstract

The author considers two aspects of the semiconductor manufacturing competitiveness problem. The first is an articulation of the critical technical factors in manufacturing sciences programs associated with the Semiconductor Research Corporation and the Sematech Centers of Excellence. The second is the relationship between science and the achievement of economic competitiveness. It is concluded that production capability is required for manufacturing competitiveness but that it is not sufficient. At least three key technical factors, quality, timeliness, and responsivity, must be addressed.