11:35 – 12:45
Panel Session: Optimizing Fab Operations
Moderator
Mike Rosa, Ph.D.
Onto Innovation
Mike Rosa is chief marketing officer (CMO) and senior vice president responsible for strategy at Onto Innovation. Prior to his current role, Mike served as CMO for Applied Materials ICAPS and Advanced Packaging Groups, where he was responsible for leadership of strategic and technical marketing, marketing communications, charting device segment inflection roadmaps and providing strategic business development support toward M&A activities. He has over 25 years’ experience in semiconductor engineering and technology, with roles that span device design and fabrication, equipment development, marketing and sales. His technical qualifications include B.Eng. (Hons) and Ph.D. degrees in Microelectronic Engineering and an MBA with dual majors in Marketing and Business Strategy. Mike has authored over 40 journal and conference publications and holds over 29 U.S. patents
Onto Innovation
Company Profile
Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: Un-patterned wafer quality; 3D metrology spanning chip features from nanometer scale transistors to large die interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; elemental layer composition; overlay metrology; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Onto Innovation supports customers with a worldwide sales and service organization.
General Telephone: +1 978 253 6200
General email: info@ontoinnovation.com
Website: www.ontoinnovation.com
Panelist
Michael Woittennek
X-FAB
Michael Woittennek has 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. After his master’s degree in Physical Engineering at University of Applied Science in Zwickau he started his career in semiconductor industry. From 2005 until 2016 he worked in various roles in process engineering and project management in the field of automotive mixed signal CMOS manufacturing and development at X-FAB. In 2017 he started his management carrier in photolithography fostering transition to higher automation in a brown field fab environment. Followed by various responsibilities in the operations management of the site until end of 2022. Since 2023 he responsible as CEO of X-FAB Dresden GmbH & Co KG.
X-FAB
Company Profile
X-FAB is one of the world’s leading specialty foundry groups for analog/mixed-signal semiconductor technologies with a clear focus on automotive, industrial, and medical applications. As a pure-play foundry, X-FAB provides manufacturing and design support services to customers that design analog/mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) and other semiconductor devices for use in their own products or the products of their customers. Its customers worldwide benefit from the highest quality standards, manufacturing excellence and innovative solutions by using X-FAB’s modular CMOS and SOI processes in geometries ranging from 1.0 µm to 110 nm, and its special micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) processes. X-FAB is also the first pure-play foundry to provide comprehensive processing technologies for the wide-bandgap materials silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). The GaN-on-Si wafers are manufactured in its modern 8” fab in Dresden, Germany, and SiC wafers in the 6” fab in Lubbock, Texas, USA. X-FAB runs six production facilities in Germany, France, Malaysia and the U.S. The company employs about 4,200 people worldwide.
Panelist
Dirk Drescher, Ph.D.
Bosch
Dirk started his career in 1995 as process engineer for Siemens Microelectronics Center Dresden. In 2000 he joined Infineon’s Semiconductor 300 organization to help starting up the worlds first 300mm Semiconductor Manufacturing Line. 2010 Mr. Drescher joined Globalfoundries for its green field start up of 300mm Manufacturing Site, Fab8, Malta, NY, USA. In 2013 he took over a managerial position at Globalfoundries Fab1, Dresden, Germany. From 2016-2023 Mr. Drescher joined X-FAB. After managing Semiconductor Fabs in Dresden and Corbeil-Essonnes, France, he served as VP Operations in X-FAB’s corporate management. Dirk is active in the board at Silicon SaxonyHe holds a diploma in Physics from Dresden Technical University and a PhD in Experimental Physics from the Technical University Chemnitz.
Bosch
Company Profile
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 428,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 91.6 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which roughly 48,000 are software engineers.
Panelist
Matthias Bonkass
GlobalFoundries
Matthias Bonkass brings over 25 years of semiconductor leadership to his role as VP of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at GlobalFoundries. A pioneer in Dresden’s fab development since 1997, he has held key roles across AMD and Globalfoundries, including Module Manager positions for CMP/Plating, PVD/CVD and Head of the global Bump Test Facility. His expertise spans 200mm and 300mm technologies, global service integration, and automation-driven efficiency. Since 2020, he has led Fab1’s ramp-up strategy, driving innovation and operational excellence. Matthias holds several patents and serves on the ISS Europe Committee and Fab Manager Forum Europe. Based in Dresden, Germany, Matthias is recognized for his collaborative approach and commitment to innovation in advanced manufacturing environments.
GlobalFoundries
Company Profile
GF is one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers and the only one with a truly global footprint. We are redefining innovation and semiconductor manufacturing by developing feature-rich process technology solutions that provide leadership performance in pervasive high growth markets. As a steadfast partner, with a unique mix of design, development and fabrication services, GF works collaboratively alongside our customers to bring a broad range of innovative products to market. With a global customer base, a talented and diverse workforce and an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning three continents, GF is delivering a new era of more.
Panelist
Torsten Müller, Ph.D.
Infineon Technologies AG
Dr. Torsten Müller holds a PhD in Physics and brings 25 years of expertise in semiconductor research, development, and production. Throughout his career, he has contributed to advancing Flash technology at Infineon and Qimonda, managed solar cell production at Conergy and Sovello, and led the technology development and ramp of a 28nm high-k metal gate technology at Globalfoundries. Returning to Infineon Dresden, he managed the 300mm technology transfer portfolio before taking his current role as Head of IC Technologies. With a proven track record in innovation, leadership, and operations, Dr. Müller remains a driving force in semiconductor advancements.
Infineon Technologies AG
Company Profile
Here at Infineon, we combine entrepreneurial success with responsible action to make life easier, safer, and greener. Barely visible, semiconductors have become an indispensable part of everyday life. We play a key role in shaping a better future – with microelectronics that link the real and the digital world. Our semiconductors enable efficient energy management, smart mobility, as well as secure, seamless communications in an increasingly connected world. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductors and system solutions. The focus of its activities is on automotive and industrial electronics, communication and information technologies, IoT, sensor technology and security. The product range comprises standard components, software, customer-specific solutions for devices and systems, as well as specific components for digital, analog, and mixed-signal applications.
Panelist
Rodney Pelzel, Ph.D.
IQE
Dr. Rodney Pelzel is the Chief Technology Officer at IQE, the leading supplier of compound semiconductor wafer products and advanced material solutions to the global semiconductor industry
Rodney has over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, with deep expertise in semiconductor materials engineering and the epitaxial growth of compound semiconductors. Rodney joined IQE as a Production Engineer in 2000 and during his first twelve years at IQE he held various engineering and operational management roles focusing on scaling leading edge epitaxial technology for high volume manufacturing for wireless applications.
In 2012, Rodney was appointed as head of R&D for the IQE Group and was tasked with creating unique materials solutions that enable IQE’s customers and provided them with a competitive edge. Throughout his career, Rodney has been involved in numerous new product introductions, including IQE’s highly successful launch of 6” VCSELs for consumer applications.
Rodney is a chemical engineer by training and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree (high distinction) in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Chemical Engineering (surface chemistry of semiconductors, GaAs and Si) from the University of California in 2000. He is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist, and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, with his work widely published and a co-inventor of 30+ patents.
IQE
Company Profile
IQE is the leading supplier of compound semiconductor wafer products and advanced material solutions to the global semiconductor industry that enable a diverse range of applications across mobile handsets, global telecoms infrastructure, smart connected devices, electric vehicles, infrared and sensing applications.
Panelist
Tim Maloney
Polar Semiconductor
Tim Maloney is Senior Director of Business Development at Polar Semiconductor in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA — a newly transformed, majority U.S.-owned pure-play foundry delivering advanced power and sensor devices. With a heritage of high-volume automotive manufacturing and a $525M CHIPS Act-backed expansion underway, Polar is doubling capacity and capability to serve strategic markets, including automotive, data center, industrial, and aerospace and defense.
With over 25 years in the semiconductor industry, Tim has led initiatives in process engineering, fab operations, technology transfer, and global supply chain management. He is driving the efforts to bring new customers to Polar to provide accelerate leadership in US based semiconductor manufacturing.
Tim’s career started as a process engineer at Motorola Semiconductor and leadership roles at onsemi, Seagate Technology, and SkyWater Technology, covering high-voltage power devices, MEMS, and mixed-signal technologies. A graduate in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he combines deep technical knowledge with a strategic business perspective — making him a strong advocate for partnerships that advance power semiconductor innovation and manufacturing competitiveness worldwide.
Polar Semiconductor
Company Profile
Polar Semiconductor is a U.S.-owned MN located 200mm foundry specializing in sensor and power semiconductors, for high-volume manufacturing of silicon and wide-bandgap ICs and discrete devices, and specialty products tailored for Automotive, Industrial, and Aerospace & Defense applications.
