Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[SemiconEng]

The real killer is that the time from a wafer started to results is over 4 months... it takes that long to know if you have something like a plumbing line that might be too long. Of course once you know you have a problem you have to figure out what it is and how to fix it... then rerun the whole thing which takes another 4 months. The problem may not be that hard, and it probably does not take the best and the brightest process engineers to get the job done... but it will take time.
--Alan


Please forgive the nit pick, since so far your manufacturing information appears to be reasonably accurate, and I'm not sure when the last time you manufactured wafers was, but FYI, Metal-1 etest, which provides transistor functionality, and switching speed data, is available ~ 5-6 weeks after wafer start, which would give significant process feedback. Also, world class manufacturing time to sort is now ~ 8-10 weeks. Add 2 additional weeks for wafer sort, packaging, burn in and final test, and finished products are available ~ 10-12 weeks after wafers start. ~ 1 month less then cited.