How wafers got to be software-defined
The benefits of connecting with your supply chain
The semiconductor industry pushes the boundaries of what we consider possible due to the scales it must work to. At one end of the spectrum, high-end processors are now made from transistors measuring 3 nanometres across. At the other, the fabrication plants or “fabs” to produce these cost over $20 billion to construct and outfit.
When we see the highly automated production lines within these facilities it’s easy to assume this isn’t a labour intensive industry. However, in one area that’s far from the case: chip design.
Here’s a thought, there are at least 10^90,000 potential configurations for the arrangement of transistors on a modern processor. This compares to 10^360 move combinations in the game Go, which AI “mastered” in 2016. Designing a new chip typically takes 2-3 years. AI-powered ‘Electronic Design Automation’ software now promises to reduce this to 2-3 months. There’s a way to go before they can produce usable designs without human involvement.
But this isn’t another “AI is changing the world, you must master it now or risk losing your job to a computer” email.
Similar gains were previously made when EDA software moved to validating designs against the requirements and constraints of the manufacturing process. By integrating the systems used for design and manufacture, costly design changes in later stages of the product lifecycle were almost eliminated. This allows suppliers and manufacturers to reduce costs and get products to market faster.
The generic term for this is Software-Defined Manufacturing. The academic literature is tough going, even for an enthusiast like me. Essentially, this is integrating your systems and ultimately connecting into those of your supply chain. Automating supply chain management may sound impossible, or you may already be doing it. If you use a third party procurement portal/service to engage with suppliers you’re on the path.
Wherever your organisation is currently, I suggest considering your supply chain and customers when planning automation investments. The firms who pioneer this in their industry will have a temporary advantage and force their competition to follow suit. So the scope of your projects is sure to extend beyond the boundaries of your company sooner or later.