Semiconductor

The return SG

Hi all,

What would like to find out more about life in semiconductor industry?

I would be applying for the position of process engineer in a semiconductor industry. Could you tell me more about this job nature?

The return SG

I think my title should be semiconductor industry. Confused

mr_sotong SG

heard from my ite lecturers tat the prospect r good... Laughing

ditzy SG

Try UTAC, their employee turnover rate is higher than the profit made annually by exxonmobile. Laughing

unclebutcher SG

semiconductors are conductors that conduct sometimes? Laughing

GoOdOnE SG

must be able to handle stress well...
be prepared to work OT...
be prepared to receive phone calls at anytime, by anytime i mean even it's 2~3 am in the morning when u still sleeping...

ispyyy SG

Easy money...
Easy life...

The return SG

If you did not listen to the call, what would happen?

What is the working hours like?

Would like to know more about the process engineer part.

Does all production industry, like manufacturing company also the same?

Meat Pao SG

hello my sister is in the industry as an engineer....started out as a process engineer as well....now I dont know whats the title....

it is quite a good job with high pay and generous year-end bonus....initially u may need to work some night shifts, but seem like only for a while, I remember my sister did it only for her first year......

and.....yah.....good prospects...semicon as a whole is one of the darlings of Singapore industry....

From there u might get other chances to get promoted to higher rank within the company...or do something different/ different role....

Meat Pao.

GoOdOnE SG

If u neva ans, prepare to be bomdarded with qns the next day by ur boss, other department boss, big boss if the issue is realli very very serious...

working hours 8 to 6 but may need to stay back if any urgent issues occur and u are in one way or another related to tt ting...

semicon is a 24hr non stop industry... anything can happen anytime that's why engineers need to remain contactable at all times... especialli those with huge responsibilities...

the industry is a up down up down industry....if tt qtr very good den bonus big big... if tt qtr not good then no bonus for tt qtr

ispyyy SG

lol... if u dont listen to the call, then they direct it to yr boss or yr senior and yr boss or yr senior will do yr job lor... lol

Actually, u can imagine wat... semi-con is a 24 hr industry... Every min the machine idle, it cost the company alot of money... And as the wafer gets bigger and bigger, the market price of the chips drops more and more... So, in order for it to survive, they need to cut cost... And that is where process engineers' job are... They maintain the yield ... cut cost, cut cost, cut cost...

The working hrs depends on the which semicon company and also depends on company's objective... But generally, it is as above...

The return SG

Being an engineer in semiconductor means that you are on stand-by 24hours? That is to say, they will call you any time any day and you must come even if you are not on shifts? If yes, then really sianz.... Sad

The return SG

New and emerging technology will be replacing semiconductor in future. I am curious as to how long semiconductor industry can last.

Any thoughts?

venny SG

nw 300mm tech already like pretty normal le lor. anyway, i also interested to work in semicon company? anyone wanna recommend me? im a dip holder.... Wink

kengkia SG

watashi wa semiconductor desu? Confused

I_love_my_toilet SG

unfortunately, replacement cannot be done over night and it comes with huge cost

semi-con still will last quite long Mr. Green

UandMe SG

Like?

Pretty much everything are semiconductor chips, whether in ur PC, phone, Tv, Mp3 etc...

Whatever that are replacing these chips are even smaller chips. So still pretty much semiconductor.

But be prepared that many of the factories might shift to lower cost region in future, due to the increasingly stiff competition and rock-bottom prices of their products.

The return SG

Like 50 years later?

The return SG

I not sure but I heard there are better technology. Not too sure what's that.

I mean the methods of making the smaller chips may have a change due to better technology?

So what does it mean by factories lowering the cost region in future? The worker and engineer will be paid less? And smaller bonus?

urbanmonkey SG

i've been in semicon industry for a few yrs...and wat has been discussed in here is pretty much true..it's a VERY high stress job and u will be contacted often if problems happen in the line concerning ur device-expertise..frankly, not to answer the call is not preferable as it would heavily reflect on ur responsibility nature..and of coz, u'll pass the work to others which is not good for ur collegue-collegue relationship

pay-wise is also true, slightly higher as compared to other field (heavily dependant on ur past experiences and of course the company itself)..bonus is always not guaranteed as it is dependant on the fab's profit or worst losses..

job nature of a process engr is of course dependant on the module that u will work in e.g. photo, etch, diffusion, impant etc..each module is unique and the most high-stress module will be etch because all process goes thru etch..but generally u will be responsible for all the decision-making if wafer is fit for the next recipe to be run...sounds simple right? but again, u must know wat is the implications of ur actions...immediate termination due to error in decision making are often heard in this industry as a mis-process wafers will result in bad yield thus losses..

btw, juz curious, which fab are u applying at?