Editorial
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COLLABORATION:
An Essential Technology Negotiating the ever-changing terrain of the semiconductor industry, where lightningfast shifts in technology can eliminate the need for a process, material or method almost overnight, can seem more challenging than scaling the highest mountain peak. Even the most experienced climber would never challenge Mount Everest alone, without the right team and tools for support. So too, must semiconductor manufacturers and equipment makers put collaboration skills as well as leading edge technology in their tool boxes, working together to create and implement successful methods to scale the peaks of semiconductor technology cycles. Throughout its history, the semiconductor equipment industry has existed in close lockstep with its customers. Indeed, the equipment industry found its genesis within the closely guarded R&D facilities of the semiconductor producers themselves. Despite the inevitable creation of an independent industry, equipment makers have always retained close ties to their roots. One might theorize that neither industry could have thrived without the stimulus, the challenge and the cooperation of the other. While at times this symbiotic relationship chafes us, we all clearly benefit from it. Today more than ever, the need for close cooperation is evident. Rapid adoption of new methods and processes, such as copper interconnect, will require semiconductor and equipment companies to work together in assessing challenges and developing solutions. Neither side has all the pieces to engineer a viable result. And the timeframe for reaching productivity has never been shorter. Collaboration is not easy, but it remains an essential “technology” that the best companies have in their portfolio. Successful programs require that trust be earned and responsibility for results be assumed by both sides. The rewards can be tremendous. By sharing appropriate information and learning from each other, both sides of the semiconductor manufacturing and equipment equation can develop the expertise to scale this peak. And for now, that is our challenge . . . until the next peak rises in the distance.
Yield Management
S O L U T I O N S
ED I T O R - I N- C H I E F Roberta Emerson M A N A G I N G ED I T O R Kevin Clover C O N T R I B U T I N G ED I T O R S Kern Beare Judy Dale Carol Johnson Kavitha Kannan Viet Pham E D I T O R I A L A S S I S TA N T Rolando Gonzalez A R T DI R E C T O R A N D P R O D U C T I O N MA N A G E R Shirley Short D E S I G N C O N S U LT A N T S Carlos Hueso Harry Wichmann C I R C U L AT I O N Cathy Correia
KLA-Tencor W orldwide C O R P O R AT E H E A D Q U A RT E R S
KLA-Tencor Corporation 160 Rio Robles San Jose, California 95134 408.875.4200 I N T E R N AT I O N A L O F F I C E S
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Roberta Emerson Vice President, Corporate Communications
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Autumn 1999
Yield Management Solutions
KLA-Tencor Taiwan Branch Hsinchu, Taiwan 011 886 35 335163 KLA-Tencor Limited Wokingham, United Kingdom 011 44 118 936 5700