Technology and Trends

In this article, several experts weigh in on considerations for developing the smart manufacturing workforce that will help to alleviate the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing talent shortage, even as multiple, data-intensive $1 billion to $10 billion fabrication facilities come online.

Now hiring signs are replacing masks and bottles of hand sanitizer as the ubiquitous markers of COVID-19, as the Great Resignation continues, and the Omicron surge ebbs. This is the new COVID reality: No industry seems to be fully staffed, and everyone is competing for talent.

Anand Nambiar, Executive VP of Semiconductor Materials at Merck, speaks about managing DE&I across cultures and geographies, the complex social interactions involved, and how the company educates employees about DE&I and its value in meeting day-to-day objectives and deliverables.

5 main challenges to fulfill the B Corp mission: establishing documentation processes, connecting with other Certified B Corporations, encouraging engagement among employees, supporting social and political initiatives, & providing a pathway to other Missouri-based Benefit Corps.

Electronic designers demand greater integration densities and faster data transfer rates to meet the growing performance requirements of AI/ML, 5G/6G networks and autonomous vehicles as these technologies have outpaced the capabilities of any single chip.

Only if we embrace people of all gender identities, generations, ethnicities, educational & industry backgrounds, & sexual orientations, (to name a few demographics) will we stand a chance to fill the talent pipelines needed for the semiconductor industry to seize its outstanding growth prospects.

Azeez Bhavnagarwala, Metis’ founder and CEO, speaks about advanced CMOS Memory and Arithmetic component intellectual property (IP) to improve energy efficiency and performance of processors.

Anna Fontanelli, Monozukuri’s founder and CEO, is an expert in deep-submicron silicon technology and design tools shares her view on the state of Moore’s Law and challenges surrounding 2.5D integration, 3D chip stacking & advanced packaging, as well as the chip design industry’s startup environment.

As a leading analyst covering the electronic system design segment, Laurie Balch is well steeped in identifying and analyzing technology trends and forecasting new market opportunities. Laurie is now President and Research Director at Pedestal Research.

Jennifer Braggin, director of technical training at Entegris, was honored with the inaugural SEMI Foundation Excellence in Achievement Award at SEMICON West 2021 in San Francisco in December for her contributions to advancing workforce development and DEI in the microelectronics industry.