The Economics Of Future Semiconductor Manufacturing

Abstract

The objective of this study was to model the maximum factory costs that could be borne byfuture generations of semiconductor technologies, and to determine the sensitivity of those projections to changes in the model's major assumptions. The modeling results suggest that factory costs in excess of $2 billion are reaZistic for manufacturing lines producing the 256 AIbit and 1 Gbit memo y generations. This result is consistent with factory cost estimates made by projecting future equipment requirements and costs.