The evolution of the subcontractor

摘要

The role and status of the packaging, assembly and test subcontractor has steadily increased over time. Since first being introduced in the late 1960s/early 1970s as "job shops" that provided some extra manufacturing capacity to the semiconductor industry, the subcontractor today provides various design, development, assembly, test and supply chain management services. No longer just a provider of extra capacity, many subcontractors today represent the total capacity of some well-known and very successful "fabless" semiconductor companies. The semiconductor industry was a $145 billion industry in 2001; of that figure, assembly and test accounted for about $35 billion. Roughly one-third of assembly and test was outsourced, thus bringing the subcontract assembly and test market to approximately $12 billion. And, as outsourcing increases, subcontract assembly and test providers should see even brighter days ahead. The use of subcontract assembly and test services is fast becoming an industry standard. But how did the subcontract assembly and test industry migrate from the lowly job shop shadows to such a prominent role in our industry? I give credit to a few companies and a lot of good people.