SEC/N Thoughts
Gary Alexander, President, SEC/N -- Semiconductor International, 9/1/2000
SEC/N has had significant impact on the used equipment segment of the industry since its founding in 1998. We have established industry standards, addressed issues, hosted seminars and conferences, exhibited in eight SEMICON shows worldwide, and been featured in numerous trade publications, all while growing our membership to more than 50 benchmark companies.But if we "peel the onion" down one more level, it's really the education of the used equipment marketplace that has been, and will continue to be, SEC/N's primary contribution. That's important because one of the greatest challenges in the semiconductor industry is the lack of knowledge of used equipment and related services.
As SEC/N continues to expand its efforts on behalf of the industry, we are especially excited about our participation in Semiconductor International. We believe there is a critical need for a recognized source for credible and timely information.
At SEC/N's Member Conference on July 13, International SEMATECH's Surplus Equipment Council released a white paper outlining the direction SEMATECH members intend to take on these used equipment issues: software and spare parts licensing, service and support, refurbishment, standards, and continuous improvement/development. This paper already is having significant impact, and it is a good example of the importance placed by major semiconductor makers on their right and ability to utilize used equipment.
These, along with other issues such as decontamination standards, e-commerce and the implications of the worldwide marketplace, are the kinds of topics SEC/N is addressing. We look forward to keeping you informed in upcoming issues of Semiconductor International.
