Silicon Wafer Foundry Service Providers - Important Contribution to Semiconductor Industry

Silicon wafer foundry service providers have been useful to the semiconductor industry and the sectors it serves. The advanced technology it offers, particularly with the advent of fabless business model, provides the affordability advantage, which is essential to maintaining minimal production costs of the foundry processes. Through foundry service providers' process capabilities, the production of semiconductor components such as MEMS have been efficient ajd cost-effective in the recent years.

Foundry service providers have a number of process capabilities, including:

• Lithography - also known as photolithography is a process that puts specific patterns on silicon wafers; the patterns are written on the substrates using a light sensitive polymer called photoresist. This process is essential to the production of semiconductor components that connect millions of transistors of a circuit.
• Etching - in simpler terms, it is a process of making prints on the surface of the substrate or wafer. Several wafer foundry companies have a broad range of wet etching capability for 300mm and smaller diameters, for a broad range of dielectrics and metal films. They can also process non-standard sized substrates.
• Wafer reclaim and recovery - this service is a practical way of extending the life of the wafers; wafer foundry service providers have the capacity to mechanically re-polish wafers to remove film, surface scratches, and residual patters. While there is a certain limit on the number of times a wafer may be reclaimed, still this procedure is a cost effective solution to customers.
• Thin films (dielectrics) - includes thermal oxide and LPCVD processes; foundry companies use equipment like custom furnaces to carry out Thermal Oxide process.
• KISS Polishing - a process used by wafer foundry service companies to remove minor surface scratches or defect on the substrates. This service includes visual inspection of wafers for chips and cracks. 

 There are still a lot of process capabilities inside a foundry service facility - thanks to the people behind these innovations. True indeed that they are a big help to the semiconductor industry and the sectors it serves.

Sapphire Etching - Dry vs Wet Process

There are two popular etching processes being used to produce pattered sapphire substrate - the dry and wet etching. It is imperative to know the differences between the two so that a manufacturing company is able to determine which between the two is better. To help you with that, I have prepared below some points of comparison:

Dry etching

• considered to be the most common method to etch sapphire substrate productiona very slow process with a low throughput rate; 
• a standard 2-inch wafer can consume between 30 and 60 minutes to etch. 
it does not scale effectively. As a wafer size increases, throughput of a dry etcher falls as fewer wafers fit inside the vacuum chamber. And because of that,  more expensive plasma etching tools are needed to achieve the same throughput as was achieved on smaller wafers.
• as an estimate, dry etching rates range between 50nm to 200nm per minute is attainable.
• it creates bright, efficient LEDs but does so slowly and with limited throughput

Wet etching

• is known to provide dual advantages of being extremely fast and a lot cheaper than dry etching
• it is very scalable but produces LEDs that are not quite as effective or efficient as dry etching.
• it provides a considerable cost saving than the dry etching
• polishing touch-up work is performed on hte wafers in order to increase light extraction efficiency

Some equipment used in etching process:

• The Accubath Xe-Series -- an etching bath equipment from Imtec Acculine, was designed with Sapphire etching in mind but we know there are other processes that will benefit from the increased chemical reactivity that higher temperatures provide (300°C). Processes that were previously thought to be too slow due to temperature limitations may now be practical because of innovations like this.
• Hitachi High-tech Silicon Etch System -- this equipment is used in dry etching based on an ECR(*1) plasma source, it is capable of generating a stable high density plasma at a very low pressure.
• CDE-80N Chemical Dry Etching Equipment -- Performs chemical dry etching of thin film on a semiconductor wafer in gaseous state (dry). Damage-free etching process through perfect separation of the etching unit and plasma generating unit enables wide use in the damage removal process.

Each of the etching processes discussed above has its own advantages and disadvantages. But, just like any other processes, select the one you think can improve your bottom-line -- profit.    

Why Failure Analysis Is Critical To Manufacturing Process?

Failure analysis, a process that relies on collecting failed components for subsequent examination of the cause or causes of failure, is considered as one critical discipline in many branches of manufacturing process because it can effectively help in the following:

• Refinement of an existing product - many products found in the market today can still be refined with the help of failure analysis; this is with the help of several procedures including collecting data of their failed components, which are brought to a laboratory for analysis in order to determine the cause and act accordingly.
• Development of new products - in many cases, the discovery of a certain cause of failure cannot just be useful for the refinement of the existing one but, of equal importance, can lead to the development of new/other products, which can be useful to both manufacturers and consumers as well.
• Cost reductions - physical and electrical failure analysis, which helps in determining the cause of failure, reduces costs as manufacturing companies can use better materials and avoid unnecessary spending and wasting, which therefore can help reduce materials and operational costs and improves profits.

There are two popular categories under failure analysis and these are the following:

• Electrical failure analysis - some examples of electrical failure analysis work can be done during dielectric breakdown, component failure, arc tracking/conductive path tracking, poor quality solder joints, floating neutrals and high voltage transients, oxidation and corrosion of electrical connections, and contamination of circuit boards. Mechanisms used as part of electrical failure analysis include Analytical Probe Station, Curve-Trace (Manual & Automated); Emission Microscopy (Near Infrared); Florescent Micro-Thermal Imaging with Lock-In; Laser Stimulation Microscopy.
• Physical failure analysis - this becomes increasingly important for process optimization for situations like when there is a continued shrinking of materials used in a certain manufacturing process. In cases like the one specified, a particular manufacturing facility can do the analysis (or hire a third party to do it) such as 3-D X-ray Tomography, C-scanning acoustic Microscopy, De-Capsulation, Deprocessing, FIB-SEM Cross Sectioning, Mechanical Cross-Sectioning, Real-time X-ray - among other physical failure analysis procedures.

More and more companies in the manufacturing sector have recognized the importance of failure analysis and have incorporated this procedure in their own system for product refinement and development of new ones.

Finding The Right Classic Car Restoration Shop To Bring Your Dream Car Back To Its Beauty And Power

Repair and restoration works are some of the most challenging tasks a classic car owner could have. For one, because of the unique nature of this job (not all car repair shops offer classic car repair services); second, finding a restoration shop that caters your needs is pretty expensive - that is, if you are not wise enough to choose the best classic car repair in town.

With the aim of helping you find a good, reputable classic car restoration shop, I have prepared some tips below - some insights you might find useful:

• Credentials - this does not only mean the papers or documentations but a list of projects a particular classic car restoration shop has accomplished during the course of time or period it has been in business. Aside from examining its records, asking its previous customers or persons who experienced working with a particular shop can be a great help in examining its credentials. The bottom line is, as is the case of most industries, no matter how good or bad a classic car restoration company in terms of selling itself, it is always the credentials that speaks more convincingly.
• The length of time in service - most of the time (if not all the time) those companies who are more capable of providing good quality service are those who have been in business for quite some time. That is also true when it comes to classic car restoration shops. Generally, the longer the time a company has been is business means that it has gained the necessary experience to become a better service provider.
• The manpower - another factor that you should consider as you choose your service company. A particular service provider might be good in a number of ways; however, if it has a limited manpower to carry out its service, it could suffer a major drawback that can compromise the quality of its service as a whole. See to it that your prospective company has the ideal number of workforce to do the classic car restoration jobs.
• The logistics - you should also examine whether or not a classic car restoration shop is advantageous in your part, logistically. You should also find out where your service provider does the job - is it at its own shop? or does a particular service provider offer restoration service at home? The bottom-line is that the logistics consideration is one area that you should consider as this can reduce your overall service expenses. 

A classic car restoration shop can bring your dream car back to its beauty and power without spending too much of your money. It is just a matter of finding the most qualified ones.

Some Etching Processes for MEMS

Microelectromechanical Systems or more commonly known as MEMS is a technology designed for very small devices. It is made up of components between 1 to 100 micrometers in size; it is being used in numerous applications such as in electronics, biotechnology, communication, and medicine.

MEMS production/fabrication is carried out by a number of processes, which include deposition, parttering, and etching. However, in this content, we are to focus on the etching processes for MEMS.

There are numerous processes involved in MEMS etching but they can be categorized in two broad categories - dry and wet etching.

Dry etching - the material is dissolved using reactive ions or a vapor phase etchant; one advantage of this process is that it is capable of defining small feature size (<100 nm). It has several disadvantages as well, including: high cost, low throughput, poor selectivity, hard to implement, and the potential for radiation damage.

Sample of dry etching

• Xenon fluoride etching - primarily utilized for releasing metal and dielectric structures by undercutting silicon; this dry vapor phase isotropic etch process was first used in 1995.
• Plasma etching - a dry etching process, which process involves generation of reactive species, diffusion of these species, and then adsorption.

Wet etching - the material is dissolved through immersion in a chemical solution inside a wet bench. It has a number of advantages, including: low cost, easy to implement, high etching rate, and good selectivity for most materials. However, it has several disadvantages as well such as the inadequacy for defining feature size < 1 micrometer.

Sample of wet etching 

• Isotropic etching - known as the non-directional removal of material from a substrate in a chemical process with the help of a substance/mixture called an etchant.
• Hydrofluoric acid etching - a process that uses an aqueous etchant for silicon dioxide

There are quite a number of processes involved in etching - each has advantages and disadvantages. One thing is certain, however - etching is an important part of micro fabrication that essential to the production of devices needed in the industry and society.

The Environmental Benefits of Anodizing Process

Aside from producing better quality finish, other important reason why anodizing is considered a promising industry process - particularly in the metal finishing industry - is the fact that it is more environment-friendly than other processes available. This feature is relevant most especially today that climate change issues are a hot topic.

Some Aluminum materials that have undergone anodizing process
(Photo credit: GMP Plating, Inc. - Bay Area Anodizing Service Provider)

But how exactly can anodizing process be beneficial to the environment? I have listed below some of the benefits as claimed by a number of companies in this industry. These are the following:

• The use of simple water-based chemicals - anodizing is recognized as environment-friendly as it uses simple water-based chemicals that produce no harm to both people and the surroundings. It does not use halogenated hydrocarbons or similar toxic organics in the process.
• An acceleration of a natural oxidation process - this is, in other words, means it does not produce harmful or hazardous by-products and thus ensure no damage to human health or the environment.
• Produces finish that is chemically stable - it will not decompose; it is non-toxic; and, it is heat-resistant to the melting point of aluminum, which is at 1,221 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Produces recyclable liquid by-products - liquid by-products (also known as secondary product produced in the manufacturing process) are recyclable and therefore can be reused/returned to the process.
• Produces harmless primary by-products - by-products such as aluminum hydroxide and aluminum sulfate can be used in other applications. For instance, they can be utilized as filters in the sewage treatment process of sewage treatment plants.
• Solid by-products has other uses - they can have a variety of uses such as in aluminum manufacturing, baking powder, for cosmetics, for newsprint, and as a fertilizer. 
• Emits no ozone-producing solvents - the process does not contribute to the worsening of our ozone layer and there are no heavy metals involved during the process.
• Anodizing as energy-saving catalyst - generally, anodizing is applied to aluminum alloys and this provides energy-saving advantage as well as environment safety. The reason is that Aluminum metal is a good electricity conductor while the anodic coating serves as good insulator. These properties substantially contribute to a product longer lifespan and energy demand reduction.

Above are just few reasons why the anodizing is of real advantage over other metal finishing process. This, indeed, plays a crucial role in the industry,environment-wise -- not to mention the benefits it provides in producing quality finish.

How can a business benefit from electrical failure analysis?

As you might (or might not ) be aware of, electrical failure analysis has been helping many companies in several industries for quite some time. In particular, the manufacturing as well as the retailer sectors - of various products - are the ones considered to be benefiting the most of the process.

What is electrical failure analysis? 

EFA, in a simple way of defining it, is a process of collecting and analyzing data to find the cause of a failure - usually applicable to examining electronic product defects. This approach is very useful in many branches of manufacturing as it allows the development of new products and the refinement of the existing ones. It is carried out by, first, collecting failed components for, second, evaluation using various methods.

Two most common method employed in electrical failure analysis:

• Microscopy - a process that uses microscopes to examine samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye.
• Spectroscopy - defined as a study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy; it pertains to the dispersion of an object's light into its component colors. (more of this can be found here)

Other methodologies employed in electrical failure analysis

• Curve-tracing - a method used to test the electrical paths of a device or package; a way of analyzing the current-voltage characteristics of an electrical path using a tool called curve tracer.
• Emission microscopy - considered to be one of the most efficient optical analysis techniques; it detects and localizes certain integrated circuit failures. It uses sensitive camera to view and capture optical emissions, which allows the detection and localization certain IC defects.
• Circuit edit FIB - using focused ion beams to remove and deposit materials with high precision - capabilities that can be used to cut and connect circuitry within a device.

So, how can a business benefit from electrical failure analysis?

A lot of businesses can benefit from this methodology, including those, as I have said, in the manufacturing sectors as well as other industrial facilities that play a vital role in our society such as those in the commercial and residential power distribution sectors, electro-mechanical machinery, electronics and appliance manufacturing and distribution sectors, HVAC systems, control systems - to name a few.

The determination of any failures within the facilities mentioned above is very essential for the improvement of their current systems or for the adaptation of new methodologies -- to produce a more improved products -- which are a key to achieving the common goal of all businesses - customer satisfaction and continued business growth.

Why Bio-Medical and LED Industry Should Leverage Chemical Delivery Systems Designed for Semiconductor Industry

The bio-medical and LED are both industries where the production processes as well as the services they involve present some challenging and complex works. For instance, proper disposal of bio-medical, chemical wastes is necessary to avoid possible contamination that could give ill effect not just to human but to the surrounding as well. The same holds true for LED manufacturing.

With the help of some innovations just like chemical delivery systems designed for the semiconductor industry, such problems can be significantly reduced (if not be totally eliminated). Why should the bio-medical as well as the LED industry leverage chemical delivery systems designed for semiconductors? The answer is pretty simple: the semiconductor industry has been around for quite a long time and has tested and refined these systems long enough for better, effective use not just for the semiconductor industry itself but for the relatively newer industries such as the bio-medical and the LED industries.

What are some chemical delivery systems developed in the semiconductor industry?

Here are some examples of CDS available in the market today:

• Chemical dispense - includes systems that are designed to meet the most demanding processing requirements used to manufacturer micro-electronic devices and their component; it includes delivery modules engineered to distribute chemicals throughout the Fab with continuous filtered recirculation.
• Chemical waste collection systems - aside from chemical dispense, there are CDS that are specifically designed for waste collection. Such systems are capable of containing wastes, which is further improved by leak detection systems.
• Chemical carts - designed for a variety of uses including acid and solvent dispensing and waste collections.Mix/blend systems - designed to give accurate and repeatable blending of high purity chemicals and slurry of a a number of applications.

A chemical cart developed by MT System, Inc. - a wet process facility
headquartered  in Fremont, CA.

• Solid chemical delivery systems - these are innovations that convert liquid or water treatment chemicals into solid state and then convert into liquid state again without ruining the original chemical component. This is used for easy delivery into facilities, saves time and space, as well as lessens

The semiconductor industry, as I have said, has been there for quite a long time. And, along with its steady growth, this industry continuous to develop various systems and innovations – systems that are refined through the years - that are also useful to other industries.

Wafer Reclaim and Recovery - Can You Trust It?

Wafer Reclaim and Recover Service - equipment
from Noel Technologies, Campbell, CA

As a semiconductor manufacturer, one of your primary concerns is the quality of the product you produce and this is the reason why you put high consideration on using good equipment or avail for services only from reputable providers. This is so true when it comes to using wafers.

The kind of wafer (also known as substrate) is critical in the manufacturing of electronic products (or their components); thus, you need to ensure that the ones you use are of good quality. With that in mind, you are most likely to get brand new ones instead of resorting to wafer reclaim. But for the purpose of reducing material and operation costs, you might be open for a second thought and try wafer reclaim and recovery instead. But why? Can I trust the process? - you might ask. The following might give you some useful insights on why wafer reclaim could work great for you:

Reducing costs -there are lots of wafer reclaim companies that offer full wafer recovery, which can extend the material's life; thus, getting brand new ones is minimal - a cost-effective solution, indeed.

The quality of reclaimed wafers - you might be skeptic when it comes to the quality of reclaimed wafers, but be aware that many wafer reclaim companies are capable of having your wafers mechanically re-polished by removing film, surface scratches, and residual patterns, making them appear and function as good as new.

Can be used multiple times - wafer reclaim companies can facilitate the process many times until wafers are justtoo deeply scratched or too thin to be reclaimed. So, this can be a great advantage as this strategy provides a positive implication in terms of cost-saving as well as on environmental impact.

Today, lots of companies in the semiconductor industry consider wafer reclaim and recovery as one of their important strategies in reducing production costs, without compromising product’s quality. More and more are realizing its value as part of their process - they consider wafer reclaim first before resorting to getting brand new ones.

Quartz Tank Quality Is Critical for High Purity Wet Etch

Photo credit: Imtecacculine, Fremont, CA

Quartz tank is an equipment used in wet process particularly helpful in semiconductor wafer or substrate production.  It is a prime choice of companies in the industry because of (1) high purity and (2) chemical compatibility.

Speaking of high purity, it is important to maintain the quality of the equipment in order to achieve the right quality of the finished output. And this can be realized by considering this option: quartz repair and restoration. This is more practical (in most cases) than getting a brand new replacement.

Compelling reasons why proper repair and restoration is necessary for quartz tanks:

• Because there is a need to remove the residue of chemicals used in the wet process, which can take a toll on the seals, housings, wiring, and quartz chamber.
• Because, as I said earlier, it is more practical than acquiring a brand new one; it costs substantially less than replacing it with a new one.
• It increases its lifespan and maintains its reliability as a wet processing tool.

To ensure the quality of repair, it is important that you entrust the job to a proven capable of doing what needs to be done. Here are some tips:

• A wet etch company that has been in business for quite long is, in most cases, more reputable than the new ones; when picking a service provider, you would want to have such company treated with higher priority.
• Another gauge for a company's reputation is the number of recognitions it has recieved through the years; and, the number of complaints raised by other clients as well.
• Pick a company that can give not just the quartz tank service you need but one that you can establish rapport with, considering that this client of service involves continues client-service provider business relationship.

What are included in a standard tank rebuild? A good tank rebuild service provider should be able to provide the following:

• Performs chemical cleaning, burn-off and fire-polish of quartz chamber;
• Add all new heaters and insulation systems;
• Add all the needed sensors and wiring;
• And new housing and flange;
• Performs complete quality control and inspection per new tank procedures; 
• and, performs all the works completed using ISO 9001 procedures.

Again, the quality of a quartz tank is critical for a high purity process; make sure you are able to get the right service provider and this can be achieved if you are knowledgeable customer.

Aluminum Anodizing - Benefits and Industry Uses

Hard Anodized Aluminum - Photo Credit: GMP Plating, Inc.,
Aluminum Anodizing Company in San Jose, CA.

There are a number of resources about how to protect aluminum materials that you can find online, particularly those processes that are being used in the metal industry - anodizing is one of them. And while there are several types of anodizing process, aluminum anodizing is considered to be one of the most popular in the industry. In fact, it is also popular as a ‘home’ job as there are many instructional resources about how to anodize aluminum at home.

Aluminum anodizing - an important industry process

Metal manufacturers that use aluminum as prime component for production always strive to deliver products of great quality. That means, they have to produce aluminum materials that are more resistant to wear and tear. Aside from that, anodizing can also help for aesthetic purposes, wherein the treated material becomes more aesthetically pleasing - shiny and easy to clean.

How does aluminum anodizing improve the quality of materials

The aluminum anodizing process is used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of the material being treated - a procedure that can greatly improve its quality. Specifically, the process can help to achieve the following:

• Durability, which is a main ingredient for a longer life-span of the treated material. Thus, it is an economic advantage to entities that use the process.
• Easy to manage materials - anodized aluminum minimizes scars, wear from fabrication, and surface dirt.
• Environment-friendly process - anodizing involves natural process since it is just a reinforcement of a naturally-occurring oxide process.

Industries that are benefiting from anodizing service

There are many metal plating companies that offer anodizing service and they are important to various industries that use aluminum - and their alloys - as a key element for product manufacturing. Specifically, anodizing protects materials used in the following industries:

• Automobile - the automobile industry use anodized aluminum  for various auto-parts applications such as wheels, frames, cylinder heads, wheels, gear box housings, pistons, anti-lock brake components, transmission parts, radiators,  bumpers, etc.
• Construction - the industry also uses anodized aluminum to a number of construction applications, which include frames (door, windows, railings) for buildings, parts of bridges - to name a few.
• Electronics - modern appliances and machines, including computer companies, use anodized aluminum as part of their production requirements to produce a more durable finish.
  
  
  

Solar Cell and Sapphire Processing - Challenges for the New Materials

Solar cell and sapphire production are two processes that are important to the industry particularly to the semiconductor sector. The processing of solar cell is vital for the production of solar panel that is commonly used in satellites and as well as in clean energy-generating system (solar-powered electric system). On the other hand, sapphire is used for the production of wafers needed for semiconductor components found electronic devices.

Every now and then, new materials are introduced in the manufacturing arena in quest for improved production of solar cell as well as in sapphire processing. Materials like metal hydrides are aimed to address the challenges in producing these semiconductor materials, which include the following:

• Cost reduction - while the production of solar cell has come a long way when it comes to reducing costs, it is still relatively high compared to the conventional sources like fossil fuel. Indeed, cost reduction is one of the challenges that this new material is facing for semiconductor-related processes.
• The efficiency challenge - at present solar cells found in the market produce up 20 percent of solar energy converted into usable energy. The introduction of new materials such as metal hydrides aimed at harnessing up to 50% solar energy for power use.
• The environmental challenge - the main goal of using environment-friendly material is to have a cleaner and greener energy program, which is vital for sustainable development. Great people in solar cell and sapphire productions strive for this realization through constant research for raw materials and processes that are more environment friendly. In addition to that, the equipment manufacturing sector is constantly working to supply the semiconductor industry with the latest innovations for the achievement of the very same goal. This is the reason why there is always an improvement to equipment found in the market today - machines like the solar cell photovoltaic manufacturing system, which is popular in the wet process industry today.

Within the next few years, we will probably see unprecedented discoveries in science and new technologies might bring surprising benefits particularly for the semiconductor industry. That is, if people in the industry address the challenges they face today.

Usefulness Of Quartz Wafer Carrier In Wet Process

Some quartz products in the market today.
Photo credit: Imtec Acculine, Fremont, CA

Quartz wafer carrier is an important equipment that is widely used in the wet process industry today. It is useful to various sectors such as in the field of semiconductor, metallurgy, chemical industry, electric light source, photo-communication, medical equipment, and scientific instruments. This tool holds wafers of different diameters on their proper places as they undergo the laboratory processes. It can come in several designs, including the vertical, horizontal, the angle slot, and cage boats.

The use of this tool helps..

• provides no wafer pinching, chipping, micro-cracking, scratching, warping or breaking
• provides no crystal slip lines as well as bonded wafer separation problems
• helps reduce particle generation
• gives no wafer rattling during the boat movement
• gives an improved process uniformity

Why use quartz wafer over other types of wet process carrier? The reason is pretty simple: this material a number of advantages, including the following:

• Impermeability - quartz materials are well-known for their impermeability to most gases; meaning, they are capable of blocking out harmful gases (except for helium, hydrogen, and neon).
• Flexibility - they have properties that can make them into various designs and complex shapes; they can also be used in various temperature ranges  - from high to low temperature to vacuum environments.
• Mechanical properties - quartz materials are also known for their mechanical properties - e.g. extremely strong in compression; their compression property is stronger than 1.1x10 9 Pa (160,000 psi).
• Insulating property - they are considered to be superior when it comes to electrical insulating property; electrical insulation and microwave transmission properties are retained over a wide range of frequencies and even at very high temperatures.
• Reactivity - many wet process facilities choose quartz also because it does not react with other substances, which is ideal for materials used for process environments - materials that require a great deal of precision (e.g. chlorine, bromine, and other acids and metals do not react with quartz at realistic temperature).
  
  

Other quartz products

Aside from quartz boat carrier, there are other quartz products (check out that list from Imtec Acculine, Fremont, CA) that are available in the market today. All of them are useful in the wet process industry.

Anodizing, Metal Plating, and Wafer Reclaim - Industry Processes You Might Want To Be Familiar With

As I have mentioned in my bio, technologies and industries really fascinate me. This is the reason why I spend most of my leisure time reading materials related to these topics and then share them online through this blog. I just thought it would somehow help readers, especially those who are just new in the industry, familiarize some components that play a vital role for the industrial sectors continue to thrive.

This time, I wanted to post about some industry processes that I happened to read recently. These are anodizing, metal plating, and wafer reclaim.

Photo Credit: GMP Plating, Inc. - a metal plating company
based in Morgan Hill, CA.

Anodizing - this is an industry process that is very important to the metal industry; the main goal of this is to protect metal materials from rapid ruining caused by rusting. Another reason is to protect metal from wear and tear, which is necessary for industries that use metal materials as a main component for their business - e.g. manufacturing, construction projects. The anodizing process use various metallic elements such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. Aluminum anodizing is perhaps the most popular because this element is considered to be the most ideal. However, gold anodizing service is getting popular as well.

Plating - metal plating has the same objective - this process is aimed at protecting the metal from rapid deterioration brought by corrosion or rusting. Metal that has undergone plating become more corrosion-resistant, making its life longer. While the anodizing process is carried out by increasing the  the thickness of the naturally-occurring oxide coating on a metal material, metal plating involves the addition of a coating of a different metal to the surface plated.

Wafer reclaim - On the other side of the industrial world, another industry process that is also important -- this time, to the semiconductor industry -- is wafer reclaim. With wafer reclaim service, wafer / thin film's life is prolong and this is done by recycling or recovering so that a used wafer can be used again, which can really minimize the costs as there is no need to constantly buy new wafers.

Related: Wafer Reclaim and Recovery

Why IT Support Companies Can Be A Big Help For Your Business

Photo credit: Computer Experts Corporation, San Jose, CA

Every company department plays an important role for the whole system to perform its functions well. And, sometimes, establishing another component, in addition to the existing ones, might be necessary; however, this could also mean an addition to the operation costs. This is the reason why a company should weigh the benefits against the disadvantages before putting up another component to your business operation.

Facility management, particularly today with the advent of computers, networks, and installation, has become more challenging - more tasks that require additional manpower and management skills. Should a company hire additional in-house worker? Or should it just consider outsourcing some of its tasks?

Outsourcing to IT support companies

Outsourcing to IT support companies is becoming more and more popular in the industry today. Many companies now tap third party entities that offer IT services because, aside from cost reduction advantage, outsourcing also can lessen the workloads assigned to their in-house staff.
But what are the types of task you can avail to IT outsourcing companies? Below are some examples:

• Server and desktop management, including set-up and network installation.
• Help desk to provide clients or end users the needed information and support about your products or service.
• Email solutions, which include auto-responder set-up, email marketing, installation of email platform for better customer reach-out.
• Mobile device configuration, which is timely since more and more clients are going mobile.
• Server infrastructure, which helps connect different components of built environment.
• IT security, which is very important to keep a company's information intact and credible and free from outside threat such as hacking and viruses.
• Backup and disaster recovery, which is very necessary for every company; IT support companies are equipped with powerful tool to ensure the retrieval of data, should disaster occur.
• LAN/WAN and Wireless network installations, connecting various departments of your company.

Where can you outsource?

There are basically two ways to outsource to IT support companies - either locally or overseas.
Outsourcing IT support locally - this is advantageous when we talk about "logistic significance"; this works well most especially for tasks that might need sending of staff to your company; and, they can work on IT tasks that require physical presence in your facility.

IT outsourcing overseas - is more advantageous when it comes to costs; lots of companies are relying on IT support providers that are based overseas such as in the Philippines and India because of cheap labor costs while maintaining the accuracy standards for deliverable  However, the task you can outsource is limited as they can only manage those tasks that are transmitted or sent/received through the Internet. i.e. they cannot perform tasks that require actual work in your company such as system unit/desktop computer and network installation.

Photolithography and Wet Process Services – Important for the Semiconductor Industry

There are two industry processes that are important to the semiconductor sector – the photolithography and the wet process. What are these things and what are the roles they play for the semiconductor sector to continue to thrive? Below are some insights that I’d like to share.

Photolithography

Photolithography is a process the is used in micro-fabrication, which is usually employed to integrated circuit production - this is also known as semiconductor device fabrication where the finishes are used in manufacturing electronic products, including PCs and mobile devices. And, as the global demands of these devices increase, there is also an increased demand for photolithography services. Hence, there is also a significant increase in the number of companies that provide this particular service – some even employ customized process to meet their clients’ unique demands. NoelTech, a wafer foundry service provider in CA, has tailored its process to provide a specialized lithography service to meet the unique demands of its clients in the area.

Wet process service

Wet process service is another area that has generated an increase in demand in the recent years and is also considered to be playing an important role in the semiconductor industry. Wet process equipment have become more popular as semiconductor productions require these tools. Semiconductor companies require consistent, durable, precise equipment – needed for a semiconductor complex manufacturing process.
Wet process equipment comes in a variety of designs and features. If you are looking for one, you should be familiar with some of popular products available in the market today, including the following: Automated Systems; Semi-automated Systems; Manual Wet Stations; Intelligent Process Station.

Accounting Firm Technology Services

The works inside an accounting firm can be very challenging to people who are handling them. The primary reason is that every work component involves dealing with finances – clients’ money. Thus, it is imperative that all these works are handled with utmost care.

The integration of Accounting firm technology to the core process plays an important role for the management of these tasks; it provides effective solutions that improve the quality of an accounting firm’s work. Hence, the whole process becomes more efficient without compromising the accuracy of the deliverable. And yes, any accounting firm can benefit from this implementation.

The implementation of this technology is not that difficult (contrary to common conceptions) as there are many IT firms that provide this kind of service. For instance, in San Jose, California, Computer Experts Corporation is one of the IT companies in the area that offer technology support to accounting practice’s specific applications, providing help not just for the accuracy and efficiency of work output but for added network security as well.

Some accounting practice-specific services offered by IT firms:

• Provide Support for a wide-array of accounting software that your company needs such as Lacerte, AMS, Intuit, Sage, Peachtree, CCH and Microsoft Dynamics.
• Help establish SOX-compliant processes and auditing capabilities (SOX aka Sarbanes-Oxley is a federal legislation that tightened auditing rules, which accounting companies need to comply with.)
• Performs security penetration testing, which can help protect an accounting firm’s network and safety for its clients’ financial information.
• Provide experienced and efficient service desk staff that is readily available for immediate response.

Outsourcing to IT firms reduces operational costs

While an accounting firm can hire in-house specialists for IT support on accounting applications and network installation tasks, outsourcing can be more advantageous particularly in reducing the operational costs. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Outsourcing eliminates the establishment of IT department that handles network & security set-up and application supports – a task that can be quite laborious to an accounting firm.
• There is no need for an accounting firm to provide the necessary IT equipment as IT outsourcing companies have the necessary tools.
• Outsourcing helps an accounting firm get experienced IT specialists that are readily available when needed.
• And, lastly, outsourcing provides a more flexible option in terms of mobility, specifically when an accounting firm decides to transfer to a new office or location.