The semiconductor manufacturing industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by technological advancements, increased demand for AI and electric vehicle (EV) chips, and geopolitical shifts. Needless to say, the semiconductor industry and the companies that fabricate the equipment used in the industry have had to take on a new challenge of high-mix manufacturing.

What exactly is a semiconductor?

A semiconductor is a material between a conductor and an insulator that creates the ability to conduct electrical current. There are many things that can be changed based on what the application requires, including electrical resistance, conductivity (which can be changed by temperature), or number of cores (based on how it processes information).

Semiconductors aren’t a new concept. In fact, the first semiconductor goes back more than a century. Each application requires a different type of semiconductor; they are not made equally. Modern semiconductors are used in a variety of electronic products, from radios to computers to smartphones, electric vehicles, and AI computers.

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