19JULY 2024to meet these demands even with the aid of automation. This is especially due to the dwindling number of graduates in science, technology, and engineering fields. The second challenge is technological. As per Moore's Law, the number of transistors on a silicon chip is expected to double approximately every 18 months. However, it becomes difficult to maintain this trend as the industry advances towards smaller processors of around 2-3 nanometers. One approach has been to stack multiple silicon layers, but this has led to larger chip sizes. The industry now faces the challenge of whether it can go beyond one nanometer, which might necessitate finding a different material or a new manufacturing method.Are there any recent advancement that has improved silicon wafer manufacturing efficiency and yield?Yield can be identified as a persistent challenge as it often takes two to three years to develop the optimal manufacturing process for a new type of chip. Intel's 10 nanometer processor for example, took years to become profitable due to initial low yields.The industry responds to these issues by being innovative. One approach is to slow down the scaling of the manufacturing process. Instead of continually trying to make smaller chips, manufacturers are exploring ways to stack silicon layers together. This allows them to increase the number of transistors without reducing the size of the silicon.The advancements have led to discussions about advanced packaging and wafer technologies. These include techniques for dye and 3D dye, which aim to increase the number of transistors on the silicon while maintaining yield. The industry is now able to mix and match different processors of silicon, combining silicon of different sizes (like 10 nanometer and 5 nanometer) together. This approach allows them to meet their needs without having to continually reduce the size of the silicon.What would be your piece of advice to the upcoming industry leaders or professionals in the industry?As someone who has navigated the industry, I would advise newcomers and emerging leaders to embrace continuous learning. What we learn in universities is only a small fraction of what is needed for a successful career. It's important to not be afraid of making mistakes and getting hands-on experience and learning from failures for professional growth. Playing it too safe can limit learning and progress. Instead, I would advise individuals to take risks, make mistakes, recover, and learn from these experiences. Success lies not just in pushing boundaries, but also in finding creative solutions to the challenges that arise. By embracing continuous learning and innovation, we can navigate the complexities of the market and bring about positive changeThis article is based on an interview between Semiconductor Review APAC and J -Wing Teh.
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