The Evolving Landscape of the Secondary Equipment Market & Fab-Supplier Interactions

Tom Salmon
VP, Collaborative Technology Platforms
SEMI

Abstract
This talk will include an overall market view of secondary equipment activities, both in Europe and globally, as well as an update on the Fab Owners Alliance (now part of SEMI) and how companies in Europe can engage.

Biography
As Vice President of Collaborative Technology Platforms, Tom Salmon works with SEMI’s staff to ensure that members, standards users, and volunteers worldwide receive maximum value from their association with SEMI. Additionally, he manages a number of SEMI’s business and technology communities, including the Fab Owners Alliance, SEMI’s Smart Manufacturing initiative, the Electronic Materials Group, Advanced Packaging, and Secondary Equipment and Applications groups. Before joining SEMI, he held several management positions in manufacturing, logistics, customer relations, and sales. Salmon is a member of the Heterogeneous Integration Roadmap Committee, the IEEE and the American Society of Association Executives, and holds a BA from the University of Minnesota and a Level One Proficiency Certificate from Japan’s Ministry of Education.

Obsolescence – the greatest challenge facing mature fabs

Gareth Bignell
Front End Equipment Purchasing Director
STMicroelectronics

Abstract
Today’s successful IOT and automotive fabs are often using equipment manufactured at a time when telephones still had cables connected to them and mails were delivered by a postman. How do we reconcile the huge gap between technologies of the 1990’s/ early 2000’s and 2019? IOT economies of scales demands low cost manufacturing and Automotive demands very stringent quality control. Many of the parts needed to repair these older tools are become obsolete and no longer available, whereas the engineers trained to work on them represent an aging population who have moved on to other jobs or often retired. The challenge facing us is to continue using the older tools whilst meeting all the cost and quality targets. We need a smart approach and help from all within the Secondary Equipment arena.

Biography
Gareth Bignell has been responsible for the sourcing of ST’s fab equipment, spares and maintenance contracts for all ST sites worldwide as well as maintenance cost reduction programs for the last 10 years. Prior to this, he was the equipment selection program manager for the Crolles2 Alliance where he closely worked with Freescale and NXP on sourcing all of the 300mm tools for this successful multicompany alliance. He started his career as an equipment engineer in Inmos UK before holding various engineering and management roles at ST’s Agrate and Crolles sites. Gareth has worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 30 years since graduating from the University of Wales, Newport.