Managing manufacturing and engineering in VLSI fabs

An intensive study of over 20 high-volume VLSI fabrication facilities located in Japan and the United States is described. The purpose of the study is to learn what managers can do to make the facilities perform better in terms of productivity, process advance, and the introduction and production of products with advanced performance. The author describes the methodology of the study as well as a conceptual model of manufacturing and engineering management which structures some of the empirical work.<>