ISO 9001 for Semiconductor Manufacturers

Delivering an effective and consistent product is essential to doing business in the semiconductor industry. Semiconductors are too important–their job is too critical to managing how electronic devices operate–for leadership to become complacent with substandard work. Doing so is the start of a cascade leading to inferior and unreliable products. When competition is so fierce, with the next game in town ready to pounce, you have to be on your A-game at all times.

QUALITY PROCESSES MAKE FOR QUALITY PRODUCTS
Semiconductor production includes hundreds of processes but can be broken down into larger steps of manufacturing, from wafer processing via etching to how the final product is packaged. Along the way, quality control is essential.

What happens when there are quality issues? How are issues resolved so the customer is happy and stays or becomes a repeat customer? No matter how effective your sales team may be, there is no substitute for quality products delivered in a timely manner. Quality processes translate into quality products.

WHY ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION MATTERS
Many manufacturers claim they have superior quality control—no business is going to talk about their inferior, substandard work! But talk is cheap when it comes to critical products.
In terms of excellence, the highest accolade in quality management can only be given by achieving ISO 9001:2015. Achieving this certification tells a story about the company, it says that the business has their collective act together and they are, indeed, first and foremost committed to quality management and to meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

WHO HAS UPPED THEIR GAME TO ACHIEVE ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION?
Out of curiosity, I surveyed the websites of 19 semiconductor manufacturers in California (either headquarters or an assembly plant), from very small companies (fewer than 10 employees) to very large ones (between 5,000 and 10,000 employees), to determine how many were ISO 9001 certified. I went into the research expecting that the vast majority of companies would the certification, for a few reasons:

• There are so many processes involved in semiconductor production, which makes it the perfect match for a process-driven certification.

• Excellence in quality is essential, so it seems natural that producers would aim for the highest level of quality recognition.

• Many of the companies either have global connections or global competitors, and ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized gold standard of quality.

To my surprise, here’s what I found:

• Only about 58 percent of the 19 companies I surveyed were ISO 9001:2015 certified and they proudly displayed that fact. A simple search for ISO 9001 on the companies’ websites quickly brought up articles and documents to support this certification. Though this technically counts as the majority, it’s hardly an overwhelming one. That leaves a lot of room for improvement.
• Just 1 (5%) firm had an ISO 2008 certification. The 2015 certification is the most recent version, so I wondered if the company didn’t apply for re-certification or simply didn’t update its website. In either case, it demonstrates that they aren’t as up-to-date as they could be—not a great look for an industry where the latest and greatest are king.
• If I’ve done my math correctly, that means approximately 37 percent have no such certification.

With such stiff competition in the industry, becoming ISO 9001: 2015 certified might make the difference in which business a customer chooses. Yes, part of the decision will be based on perceived capabilities and pricing. But the customer also has to trust the supplier. ISO 9001 certification provides a basis for that trust. It assures the potential customer that this company doesn’t simply say that quality matters, they have had to prove those principles to an independent, outside auditor.

Adhering to quality management principles and having processes in place that promote exceptional customer satisfaction goes a long way to not only enticing new customers but guaranteeing their return in the future.

Want to ensure your company is operating at the highest level of quality management? Learn about our Virtual Certification ASRP Program. With our help, you can achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification and take your business to the next level. Don’t wait, start your journey towards quality excellence today!