SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 28, 2009--
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded an
integrated service contract by Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd. to support
its advanced 300mm semiconductor factory in Mie, Japan. Under the
program, Applied will service over 100 Applied chipmaking systems
utilizing its innovative Applied Performance Service™
solution that scales service levels to match factory loading. In
addition, Applied will implement its Applied E3™
advanced equipment and process control technology on Fujitsu
Microelectronics Mie plant’s entire toolset to increase the efficiency,
predictability and profitability of Fujitsu Microelectronics’
system-on-chip (SoC) manufacturing process.
“The SoC market requires a high degree of application-specific
customization, resulting in a constantly changing product mix.
Maintaining tight process control on every wafer is critical to
profitability,” said Kiyoshi Watanabe, corporate vice president, Fujitsu
Microelectronics Ltd. “The Applied Performance Service Program paces
service and price to actual utilization rates to provide us with
committed uptime performance at a low, predictable cost that tracks
factory loading.”
The uniquely flexible Applied Performance Service program can reduce
maintenance costs by an average of 15%, making it a particularly
powerful strategy for chipmakers producing SoC and other cost-sensitive
logic devices, especially in times of rapidly changing demand. Using
proprietary fingerprinting algorithms, the Applied E3 solution further
raises cost-efficiency by optimizing and tracking the process
performance of every tool in the fab. The E3 system’s fault detection
and classification (FDC) technology provides rapid feedback on tool,
wafer and lot performance to avoid unexpected excursions that impact
productivity and cycle time, while run-to-run control (R2R) adjusts
processing parameters in real time to enable more consistent output and
higher device yields.
“Applied’s high-tech service approach is a perfect match for a
sophisticated and agile fab such as Fujitsu Microelectronics’ Mie
plant,” said Charlie Pappis, vice president and general manager of
Applied Global Services. “By combining variable service with equipment
and process automation, customers can reduce costs and take advantage of
the unused potential of their existing assets. The growing momentum of
our service business in Asia is a testament to Applied’s unique ability
to provide innovative support solutions.”
For more information, visit www.appliedmaterials.com/products/performance_services_2.html.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of
innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication
of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells,
flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials,
we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live.
Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
Source: Applied Materials, Inc.
Applied Materials, Inc.
Betty Newboe, 408-563-0647 (editorial/media)
Michael
Sullivan, 408-986-7977 (financial community)
