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Long-term semiconductor supply - risk-free!
to store components for the life of the project; with varying degrees of success. Carefully stored (and packaged)
components can normally provide 3-5 years of risk-free supply. Beyond that point, it is inevitable that yield-losses (solderability issues) will rise, although specialist storage can mitigate some of these risks. Unfortunately yield losses do not follow a linear trajectory and variations in plating type, plating quality, package type, and lead-form, all have an impact on the diminishing usable life. The storage of finished components is also costly, both in terms of the capital tied up, and the cost of special storage conditions.
Ken Greenwood, technical sales manager, EMEA at Rochester Electronics investigates how companies can take control of component obsolescence using proper wafer and die storage to ensure the uninterrupted, long-term supply of parts, and the reduction in overall sourcing risk
T
he Semiconductor industry continues to evolve both in terms of
manufacturing technology and consolidations. This combination typically means that old components reach their end-of-life sooner and more applications and industry segments are being affected by obsolescence than ever before.
Why is there a need for long-term IC supply? Systems in markets such as Mil-Aero, Industrial, Energy, Transportation, and Medical often have lengthy product and service lives. Re-design and re-
12 SEPTEMBER 2020 | ELECTRONICS
qualification costs are prohibitive, and customers need support for the original system design without modification. The semiconductors that go into them,
however, tend to have much shorter life cycles. The challenge for the system supplier is how to manage the gap between these two conflicting timelines.
How do customers normally manage the mismatch between semiconductor life cycles and system life cycles? Traditionally, customers made large Last-Time-Buy (LTB) purchases of finished components; and then attempt
Ken Greenwood, technical sales manager, EMEA at Rochester Electronics
What are the consequences of getting the last-time-buy wrong? One thing is certain - circumstances change! A forecast LTB purchase is almost guaranteed to be wrong. Fluctuating market demand, combined with the uncertainty of long-term storage yields, can play havoc with a customers project plans. This results in: premature system discontinuations, shortened service-lives, full re-designs driven only by component obsolescence or unused components which are subsequently scrapped. In desperation, some customers
attempt to fill gaps in last-time supply by purchasing finished components through the non-authorised/grey markets, which introduces a whole range of new risks into the supply chain such as: pre-used, damaged, contaminated, or pre-programmed Components; many sold as “new”.
Is there an alternative to a traditional LTB purchase of finished components which offers a 100% guarantee? The only way to GUARANTEE long-term semiconductor availability is: Wafer Storage + Long-term Packaging and Test For over 35 years Rochester Electronics
has offered a comprehensive range of wafer storage and processing services at our facilities in Newburyport MA, USA. Our next generation wafer storage and processing capabilities include: • ISO-7/10K certified
/ ELECTRONICS
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