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Work slows on Samsung's big picture

Article Abstract:

Samsung Chmn Hun-hee Lee's vision for his company has been side tracked by the rapid decline of the DRAM market. Lee planned to copy General Electric's strategy of divesting itself of any business in which it cannot be the market leader, or at least in second place. Lee also planned to make Samsung a truly international company, instead of depending on the small Korean market. He also planned to focus on the development of innovative products, instead of concentrating on market share. The basis of Lee's strategy was the move from the company's core DRAM and semiconductor markets to multimedia systems based on integrated circuits. The $6 billion plan, which included the construction of new factories, was based on bank loans and profits from Samsung Electronics. A downturn in the Korean economy forced banks to reconsider such loans and a decline in Samsung Electronics' income has forced Lee to tighten his budget down to less than $2 billion. This will be parceled to $770 million for multimedia and $1.1 billion for communications.

Semiconductor Devices, Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing, Random Access Memory Circuits, Planning, Samsung Electronics Company Ltd., RAM (Random access memory), Company business planning

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Built-in-self testing techniques finally earn some respect

Article Abstract:

The semiconductor industry's design for test (DFT) movement is becoming more widely accepted. DFT addresses test requirements during product development via two approaches, the boundary scan and the built-in-self test (BIST). The main reasons for interest in DFT are the growth and complexity of microprocessors and the resulting increase in costs of traditional testing methods. Test development and testing presently account for 30% of the cost of a microprocessor, and the amount continues to increase as technological advancements increase chip capacity and complexity. The average cost of new automatic test equipment for chips starts at $2,000 to $3,000 per device pin. Test equipment has become the most expensive single item of capital investment for manufacturers, making DTF an attractive alternative. Although BIST was used almost exclusively by military contractors in the past, most manufacturers today use a combination of BIST and boundary scan.

Industry trend, Integrated circuit fabrication, Quality management

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Cellular phones set for more growth

Article Abstract:

There were over 10 million new cellular telephone subscribers in the US and over 47 million worldwide in 1996. About the same number of people are expected to subscribe in 1997, according to Motorola's Jim Caile. Cellular telephones are therefore an important and growing market for static random access memories, flash memories and other semiconductors and passive components. Production of digital personal communications devices is underway in the US, but the nation's market for communications handsets remains 90% analog. Suppliers are preparing for the switch to digital, however. GEC-Plessey Semiconductors' Brian Hyde noted that, while analog equipment still accounts for most of the company's sales, it is focusing its development activities on digital. Information on Europe's cellular communications market is included.

Radio & TV communications equipment, Market trend/market analysis, Cellular telephone equipment industry, Smart phone, Smart phones

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