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.
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.
It’s been another great year for the semiconductor industry. While 2014 hasn’t fully come to a close yet, the WSTS (World Semiconductor Trade Statistics) has forecasted that by the end of this month, the industry will have grown a full 9% over 2013, up to a $333 billion industry. Next year, the industry is expected to continue to grow to $345 billion, and by 2016, $355 billion.
While WSTS forecasts that the consumer and computer sectors of the semiconductor industry will remain flat at 2014 levels in 2015, they predict significant growth in the automotive and communications applications of semiconductor technology. The growth in the automotive sector has been supported by innovations like Texas Instruments’digital light processing (DLP) technology, automotive solutions for car consoles, and by inspiring visions of the car of the future by Freescale and partnering car manufacturers.
To compete in the tech world today, businesses must embrace creativity and innovation at every level. Tech businesses often emphasize the importance of employees possessing the right knowledge and experience, which matters. But to really set your work apart in the industry, creativity and innovation should be the business of everyone in your organization, from the highest senior executive to the lowest employee on the organizational chart. Making creativity a priority business value will both help you stay competitive and fulfill your mission in society.
When it comes to advances in the electronics industry, less is often more. Silicon Labs has introduced its sixth generation TV tuner IC, a package that has been honed for five generations to provide the world’s smallest electronic footprint while using parts that cost less. All this, while also providing the high linearity and sensitivity that makes for a superior viewing experience for customers.
Their Si2151 and Si2141 tuners are targeted specifically at the Chinese market, where sales of ultra-HD TVs are expected to grow from 1.3 million in 2013 to 23 million by 2017. They're not just the ones buying these TVs though; China is also forecasted to manufacture over half of them.
This morning I had an experience most of you probably find familiar. As I turned on my car, a couple of lights came on to let me know my car needed service. With the help of the car's internal technology, I was alerted that my car needed a “C” scheduled service, the brakes needed attention, and my tires needed more air to accommodate the coming cold weather. I made an appointment with my mechanic and then started to wonder how his job's changed in recent years and how it stands to change even more as auto technology evolves over the next few years.
Our work at Talent 101 has given us a glimpse into some of the changes to come. We've had the good fortune to work with companies in the automotive industry to provide development and testing services for the semiconductor technology they use.
Last week when meeting with a promising lead, several of Talent 101's representatives encountered a memorable moment. We were one of a number of vendors meeting with this potential client, so we took some time for the usual networking and introductions before the presentation started. An executive of one of the attending vendors offered up this explanation of what his company does: "We peddle IT and engineering staffing.” I hadn't heard that phrase in years.
When we returned to the office and discussed our experience that day, I learned that we all had noticed the “peddling” remark. It stood out. It made us recall the old days when many of us saw what we did as “peddling staffing.”
Our phones keep getting smarter, and the companies making our cars are working to catch up. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, continue to gain traction in the automotive world. These systems are behind some of the features already familiar to buyers of newer and high-end cars: built-in GPS and traffic warning systems. They're set to get even more sophisticated in years to come.
Austin-based Freescale Semiconductor has worked with the ALPS Electronic Co. over the past two years to develop a line of Smart Application Rapid Engineering (SABRE) i.MX 6 processors. As mobile technologies become more prevalent, so does the demand for cars that are compatible with them. With that trend in mind, Freescale and ALPS are confident that most next-gen smartcars will feature products from their SABRE line.
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:
