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Chip engineers in small teams are often knee-deep in a wide range of different tasks and projects. From client management and design layout to data analysis and testing, they have their work cut out for them. The mantra “do more with less” has become a popular strategy for running lean teams in many semiconductor companies. While this approach saves time and money, engineers may risk quality, productivity, and performance.

This scenario plays out all too often in high-performing design teams when engineering leaders lose sight of purpose, processes, and people. Deadlines get aggressive, development times are uncertain, and the results become questionable. The price to pay is immense, and companies can’t afford to fall short on testing, especially when pattern generation (PG) is on the line. So what do you do?

Semiconductor Industry results for 2014 look like they will hit record numbers. The 2014 Q3 results continue trending upward from all-time record 2014 Quarters 1 & 2. Results from Q4 are not expected until February 2015. 

As a workforce solution provider that specifically works with semiconductor businesses and professionals, we usually have a pretty good idea of how business is going in the industry. The trends we've seen in the last year are now supported by research provided by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In tracking global sales for 2014, they've found a steady increase in business and profitability for semiconductor companies. Month by month, quarter by quarter, and year by year, the numbers just keep rising.

Compared to this time last year, semiconductor sales have gone up throughout the world. Here are the statistical details by market regions:

A recent counterfeit semiconductor scare proves a distressing reminder that not only do counterfeit semiconductor chips exist, they can make it into the hands of people working on some of the most sophisticated projects out there. If fake and potentially dangerous semiconductor chips can come so close to being used by the U.S. Navy, they could be anywhere.

For those of us who understand how much goes into the process of developing semiconductor chips, the fact that counterfeit products could even exist is confounding. The prohibitive cost of FAB equipment and the complexity of the processes and technology required should be enough to keep con artists out of the game. Yet somehow someone's figured out a way to counterfeit the process in a ploy to make more money, which puts us all at risk.

(image via Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Semiconductor Industry Association has been working up some numbers lately and it has posted some of its results regarding employment. The results were not shocking but pleasing, especially for the people of Texas and California. Semiconductor Industry Association stated that California and Texas have great potential of growing remarkably in the semiconductor industry. They reached this conclusion on the basis of employment opportunities. California is the place which employs the most people in the semiconductor industry and Texas is not far behind in the line since it stands at the second place currently.

(image via techreleased.com)

The new DaVinci processor that are coming out of Texas Instruments take an innovative approach to processing video and the upcoming 4K video revolution in the industry. The device enables original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original-design manufacturers (ODMs) to quickly bring to market devices featuring robust operating systems support, rich user interfaces, and high processing performance through the maximum flexibility of a fully integrated mixed processor solution.

Some provocative thoughts here on current and future of the US workforce. After decades of reducing expectations, lowering the bar and parental interest, the US is now dependent on importing intelligence. This is evidenced by the number of new citizens H1B and Green card residents flocking to the US. Even more painful to the US economy is the fact we have replaced voracious consumers who had high paying jobs and disposable income with a more frugal group. How can the economy kick start if consumers aren’t buying?

How do we reverse this? Last week, Texas has just lowered Math standards again for High School kids. While many shout hurray, they will be surprised to find out they can’t enter college without Algebra II. We should make the education standard tougher, not easier so our kids can compete with the global competition they now face. Without a college degree, there is no chance at a high paying job.

Eagle Product/Test Engineer