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

Unbiased report compares 300mm and projected 450mm cost structures

February 20, 2008 (Pleasanton, CA) – Wright Williams & Kelly, Inc. (WWK), a cost & productivity management software and consulting services company, announced today the availability of an unbiased 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.

In April 2007, WWK conducted the first 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 to find that nearly 40% answered that 450mm wafers would never happen. Subsequently, WWK decided to look closer at 450mm wafers and their impact on semiconductor manufacturing economics. The findings of that study are presented in the report entitled, “An Economic Comparison of 450mm and 300mm Fabs.”

“Given the historical framework of the aborted 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 jump,” states Daren Dance, Vice President of Technology at WWK. “We have endeavored to look at the issue of transitioning from 300mm to 450mm wafers from an unbiased perspective that is neither funded nor supported by suppliers, IDMs, or foundries. We believe this report is the first honest examination of the economic and other driving factors that will support or refute the move to 450mm wafers.”

The Table of Contents for the report includes:

1. Background
Figure 1: ITRS Die Size Forecasts
Figure 2: Expected 2008 New Capacity by Wafer Size
2. Description of a Candidate 450mm Fab
Table 1: 35nm Technology Characteristics
Table 2: Tool Group Expectations for 35nm
3. Economic Simulation Inputs
Estimating Equipment Costs
Figure 3: 200mm vs. 300mm Equipment Cost Comparison
Building Costs
Table 3: AMHS Considerations
Table 4: Fab Floor Space Comparison
Wafers, Materials and Consumables
Table 5: Wafer Cost Forecasting Factors
Table 6: Simulation Inputs and Assumptions
4. Economic Simulation Results
Table 7: Economic Comparison
5. Possible Motivations
6. What about 2025?
7. Conclusions

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, magnetic media, flat panel displays, 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.