Samsung Electronics continues to play a pivotal role in the competitive landscape of the global semiconductor industry. With the appointment of Han zhenwan, the new head of the foundry business of its Device Solutions Division, Samsung Electronics has ushered in a new strategic direction for its foundry business. Recently, according to Korean media news, Han Zhenwan said in an internal letter to employees that "Samsung's foundry department should achieve both advanced and mature processes". In this article, China Exportsemi will try to deeply analyze Samsung Electronics' strategic layout in the parallel development of advanced and mature processes, and discuss the far-reaching impact of this strategy on the global semiconductor industry.
Advanced Process: Breakthroughs and Challenges in 2nm Technology
Samsung Electronics has made significant technological breakthroughs in the field of advanced processes, especially in the research and development of 2nm technology. According to Korean media ETNews and SEDaily, Han Zhenwan emphasized in an internal letter that the most critical task of Samsung's foundry department at present is to achieve a rapid (yield) ramp-up of 2nm production capacity. Samsung Electronics was the first to achieve the world's first GAA process, but there was still a lot of room for commercialization of advanced processes, "We had to break the vicious cycle of 'when the window of opportunity closes, we will gamble on the next technology node.”
Pictured: Han zhenwan, the new head of the foundry business of Samsung's Device Solutions Division
Samsung has had some problems with the 3nm process node. According to industry data, the yield rate of Samsung's 3nm process is only about 20%, which means that for every 10 chips manufactured, as many as 8 of them may not meet the standard. This percentage is significantly lower than Samsung's internal minimum yield target of 70%. At the same time, TSMC's yield rate in advanced processes remains between 60-70%, which allows TSMC to surpass Samsung in global market share. Samsung's challenges with the 3nm process highlight the critical issue for semiconductor manufacturers in the high-end process race.
Despite the challenges encountered on the 3nm process, Samsung has made significant progress on the 4nm process. Samsung Electronics' 4nm chip yield rate is close to 70%, which not only proves Samsung's competitiveness in advanced process technology, but also strengthens its competitive position in the global semiconductor market. From a technical point of view, the 4nm process has a significant increase in transistor density compared to the 5nm process, which allows more transistors to be integrated on the same area of silicon wafer, thereby increasing the computing power of the chip and reducing energy consumption. This technological advancement is critical for Samsung to remain competitive in the global semiconductor industry.
Mature process: Expansion of business scale and customer acquisition
While advanced processes are in the spotlight, the competitiveness of mature processes is also indispensable. Han Zhenwan said: "In the field of foundry, expanding the commercial scale of mature processes is a task that cannot be ignored. "This shows that mature processes still play a vital role in mass production and market share, given the diversity of the market and the complexity of customer needs.
By expanding its customer base with mature processes, Samsung will not only be able to strengthen its position in the industry, but also provide customers with a richer range of choices and enhance its overall market competitiveness. In this process, how to balance resource allocation and corporate strategic goals will test the wisdom and decision-making ability of Han Zhenwan and his management team.
Organizational management: Stimulate innovation and improve efficiency
In terms of organization and management, Han Zhenwan put forward new requirements. He stressed that the management team should ensure that the junior staff have enough time to experiment and think, and avoid wasting valuable time on tedious reports and debriefings. This initiative is designed to stimulate innovation among employees and improve the overall efficiency of the team.
Conclusion
Samsung Electronics' dual-track strategy not only reflects the accurate grasp of market demand, but also provides lessons for other players in the industry. In the future, mastering the dual technologies of advanced and mature processes will be the key for enterprises to gain a foothold in the unpredictable global market. With the advancement and application of AI technology, Samsung's initiative also provides a sample for understanding how traditional manufacturing is transforming in the wave of new technologies.
Under the leadership of Han Zhenwan, Samsung Electronics' foundry division will embark on a new development path in multiple dimensions such as technological innovation, market expansion and talent management. Samsung Electronics' strategic layout will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the future semiconductor market, and we have reason to expect that Samsung Electronics will continue to lead the development trend of the global semiconductor industry in the parallel development of advanced and mature processes.
