Connections Academy’s Post

“I believe knowledge always opens more doors in your career.” Last year, Austin Community College launched a new training program called Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start (STARS). The curriculum was developed with input from #SamsungAustinSemiconductor, Tokyo Electron, NXP, Applied Materials and Infineon. One of #SamsungAustinSemiconductor’s employees who recently went through the program said he’s a better technician because of it. Read more about how the STARS program is helping upskill techs in the industry. #WorkforceDevelopment #InvestinEmployees

"Advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, semiconductors" are some of the hot buzz words in STEM career paths for Central Ohio students. The jobs are coming but there aren't enough skilled workers to fill them yet. This is such an exciting time to help pave the way for students to find great jobs where they can earn while learning! Learn more about the Semiconductor Fundamentals Certificate at www.cscc.edu.

My deepest thanks to everyone who joined me last week to celebrate the United States government's announcement of $6.4 billion of direct funding into our Taylor, Texas plant as part of Congress's CHIPS and Science Act. This major step forward will help re-establish a U.S. semiconductor supply chain and ecosystem while also giving America the leading manufacturing edge it needs to meet the growing demands of #HPC and #AI. It was a beautiful day in Taylor to celebrate with the many partners who helped make this incredible accomplishment a reality. I was particularly inspired by the well-wishes from the many technology leaders who joined in our celebrations, including Qualcomm President & CEO Cristiano R. Amon, who said it best of all: "This is an important opportunity to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, enhance the industry's supply chain resilience, and provide innovative foundry capabilities for leading U.S. fabless semiconductor companies." I could not agree more. The Department of Commerce's investment in #SamsungSemiconductor’s Taylor campus represents a massive leap forward in securing America's advanced-node silicon supply chain. Over the coming years and months, we are excited to begin reaping the many fruits of this partnership, while continuing to grow and secure the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. 

Today the semiconductor industry finds itself at a critical inflection point, with billions being invested alongside the backdrop of an emerging long-term skills gap. This makes the launch of the Semiconductor Education Alliance with Arm and other industry leaders timely and incredibly exciting, as it empowers new and existing talent with the robust skills needed to secure semiconductor innovation in the future.   With such a strong force of partners coming together at a global scale, we can work together to build a better future for our industry. 

How to start my career in Semiconductor manufacturing related companies

Similar to previous post but with more details

As most of us at WFI US started our careers at Motorola Semiconductor, nostalgia drives our interest in news from NXP or On Semiconductor. We decided to follow up on the late early 2023 news on the East Fishkill expansion. There were several location and industry-focused articles in early 2023. These framed up the basics of the East Fishkill deal, the 1,000-employee count, the additional 100-employee hiring, and the plan to invest $1.3B over some time. There were interesting joint plans for semiconductor skills and employee development with RIT. This reminds us of the old days when you could find RIT grads in so many fabs, even those that weren’t in NY. We couldn’t find any substantive recent articles, even from the local press. Finally, we combed through the Q3 2023 earnings transcript. We read a lot of interesting marketing data, e.g. On Semi’s plan to exceed SiC market growth by 2X. We didn’t read any significant East Fishkill details, as there wasn’t much granularity on the capital spend, for example. GF image of Fab 10 East Fishkill, NY:

Similar to the clean energy transition, where electrician shortages threaten to slow the pace of deployment, the semiconductor industry is also facing critical talent shortages. To meet the expected demand, the White House says the United States needs 90,000 to 100,000 more semiconductor technicians — and needs to triple the number of engineering grads — by 2030. The NPR article below does a nice job of highlighting the challenges but also some of the in-market solutions.

I am happy to tell you that I have obtained a new certificate: Semiconductor Fabrication Certificate from Purdue University, The University of Texas at Austin and Intel Corporation! I am thrilled to announce that I have successfully completed the Semiconductor Fabrication course by Purdue University. This comprehensive program has equipped me with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in semiconductor fabrication processes, significantly enhancing my ability to drive innovation and excellence in this critical field. 📈 Course Highlights: In-depth lectures on industry-standard semiconductor fabrication processes. Hands-on training in the virtual FabLab, allowing practical experience from anywhere. Focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and critical thinking. 🔧 Skills Acquired: Identifying and prioritizing key factors in semiconductor fabrication. Exploring factor interactions and determining robust solutions. Practical application of knowledge in a virtual cleanroom environment. This certification is a significant milestone in my professional journey, empowering me to contribute more effectively to the growth and development of the semiconductor industry in the Dominican Republic. By fostering innovation and technical excellence, we can elevate our local industry to new heights, positioning ourselves as a competitive player in the global market. 💡 Implications for the Dominican Republic: Enhanced local expertise in semiconductor technologies. Boosted innovation and continuous improvement in the industry. Strengthened capability to compete on a global scale. I am excited about the future and the positive impact we can create together. Let's continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in semiconductor fabrication! hashtag #Semiconductor #Innovation #ContinuousImprovement #DominicanRepublic #ProfessionalGrowth #PurdueUniversity #SemiconductorFabrication #TechExcellence #GlobalCompetitiveness #VirtualLearning #CareerDevelopment