Enriching Lives I'm always interested in these tiny chips.
- Joined the company April 2017
- Process development engineer
(Module Development) - D.M.
I originally studied electrical and electronic engineering at university. As a student, I focused on experiments, subsequent results, and presentations. While I was looking for a job in electric field, I attended USJC briefing and immediately decided to join the company.
Semiconductors are very small, but they are used in various electronic devices. I was very interested in the fact that they are important components that play a major role in enriching people's lives in the world, such as IoT, 5G, and autonomous driving. In addition, as a member of UMC, a major foundry company that is currently the parent company of USJC even before the business integration, I decided to join USJC because I was attracted to the fact that I could work globally.
Process development covers from A to Z. Process development covers from A to Z.
In short, the main task of the process development department that I belong to is to examine and execute the process of turning what the customer has designed into a product. Process development has two main roles, one is to develop elemental technologies for the minimum basic unit that constitutes a semiconductor manufacturing process (e.g.,deposition, lithography, etching, CMP, cleaning, etc.), and the other is to develop integration technologies for forming integrated circuits on wafers by combining these elemental technologies. I am in charge of process development for thin film formation technology, which is elemental technology development. I work with those in charge of each process and integration to examine processing methods, and when required to investigate a problem, I investigate the cause and resolve it.
Specifically, a problem with increasing defects occurred in my project, and the person in charge of integration asked me to investigate the cause. Because the processes I am in charge of are intertwined with various processes, it is really difficult to determine when and in which process the cause occurs. There are many cases where my knowledge is not enough to know which approach to take, so I consult with my superiors and seniors and conduct experiments with advice. By examining the data and repeatedly consulting with my superiors and seniors, I identify the cause and consider improvement ideas. Then, in order to apply improvement ideas, I discuss them again with the person in charge of the relevant department, including quality control, and try to solve the problem by examining the effect and the risk impact on other processes.
However, there are few things that I can solve by myself, so I consult with my supervisors and seniors and get advice on how to improve things. Because it is necessary to discuss with each other as we proceed with our work, communication naturally increases, and the company culture is warm and welcoming.
I had grown into a "reliable senior."
I try to take notes on advice from my supervisors and seniors consistently since I joined the company. The reason is that technology is evolving every day in the semiconductor industry, but I often feel that the advice from my supervisors and seniors is just the history of semiconductor technology.
I keep such valuable advice as notes as I go about my daily work and feel that I am growing.
Also, my supervisors and seniors have been warmly watching my growth while teaching me in a clear and respectful manner since I joined the company, even though I did not major in semiconductors. In the future, I will step up to become a "reliable senior" who can pass on the historic technology I have inherited from my supervisors and seniors.
How OB enjoying their day off?
To be honest,
I really wanna work on my cooking skill,
and be mastering of how to deal with fish.
I used to work part-time in a restaurant kitchen when I was a student, and I'm actually good at cooking. On weekdays when I can get home early or on my days off, I watch videos and cook whatever I think "It looks delicious!". I like to clean a fish since I was a college student, and I still make sashimi to eat when I have time.
Devote myself to a semiconductor maker with my major
- Joined the company April 2016
- Process development engineer
(Module Development) - N.O.
I discovered USJC when I was studying epitaxial growth, one of the thin-film crystal growth technologies in semiconductor manufacturing, and when I was looking for a job to make the most of what I had learned in my hometown. I heard that semiconductors manufactured by USJC are being used in products such as smartphones and automobiles, and I decided to work for USJC because I thought it would be a good way to work while feeling like I was contributing to society.
Responsible for playing a central role in the manufacturing environment where trial and error are welcomed! Responsible for playing a central role in the manufacturing environment where trial and error is welcomed!
My job is mainly to improve, manage and monitor production lines to make better products faster and at lower cost.
The manufacturing department I belong to is the center of manufacturing, producing semiconductors. Collaboration with other departments is essential for manufacturing. For example, in order to improve product yield, we may review the process of making a product or change the specifications of materials or equipment. We work with process development engineers, customer engineers, and manufacturing facility engineers from other departments to make improvements on a daily basis.
In addition, even though the production line is set up using the same process and equipment as before, it may not go well. In that case, identify the cause of the problem, resolve it, and stabilize the process. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when the product takes shape on the line I launched.
The work environment is very bright and open, and I feel that my opinion is accepted. Incidentally, I studied semiconductors at university, but I definitely learned more after joining the company. Even if you did not major in semiconductors when you were a student, if you are interested in working on your own, your supervisors and seniors will teach you carefully, so you can work in a safe and enjoyable environment.
As a member of "USJC," learn to put yourself in their shoes.
I was passionate about baseball in high school and ice hockey in college, and my motto has always been to act responsibly as a member of a team. Because of this experience, thinking from the other person's point of view, "What would he/she think if I said this?" and "What would he/she do if I did this?
Semiconductor manufacturing involves hundreds to thousands of processes, so it is essential to cooperate with many people, both inside and outside the company, and I feel that my job requires me to think, speak, and act from the perspective of others. Always remember this identity and grow into a person who is responsible as an engineer of "USJC."
How OB enjoying their day off?
Having drinks during off
duty is always welcome.
Somehow it looks like
a good idea working out.
On my days off, I spend time at home. I like to drink, and sometimes stop by a izakaya I like. I am able to spend my days off refreshed and lead a balanced life, which allows me to work hard at work! I have enjoyed physical exercise since I was a student, but such opportunities have been far away since I entered the workforce. I am planning to take advantage of USJC's benefits program and start a physical activity hobby soon.
I stepped in for my hunch of potential possibility of this business. Intergrated knowledge coming from various aspects. I stepped in for my hunchof potential possibility of this business. Intergrated knowledge coming from various aspects.
- Joined the company April 2017
- Process development engineer
(Integration Development) - T.N.
Since my research topic is in the niche field of complex chemistry, I don't have an image that my research content is directly related to employment, so I wanted to get a technical job while I was looking for a job. USJC was one of the companies I found while researching various jobs and industries. Somehow, when I went to the briefing, I heard that they are putting a lot of effort into technology to reduce the consumption of smartphone batteries (low power consumption technology), and I was very attracted. At the same time, I felt semiconductors, which perform calculations, memory, and play a role like the human brain in electronic devices, are an essential and promising industry for the future of society. I didn't study semiconductors as a student, but when I joined the company, my knowledge of a wide range of fields, including chemistry, is brought together in semiconductor manufacturing. There is always a field where those who are interested in USJC can play an active role.
It's just like recipe for cooking, but always propose with some unique ingredient. It's just like recipe for cooking, but always propose with some unique ingredient.
I am developing integration technology in the process development department. To use a real life analogy, it is cooking recipes. In semiconductor manufacturing, my job is exactly that, and I am developing, quite simply, how to make semiconductors. Just as we try to make a dish and rewrite the recipe to say, "Let's add a little more sugar," or "This step will be more efficient," we are testing and experimenting to create semiconductors in a better way. When we receive a sample recipe from a customer, we think about what steps to add to create the product that the customer wants based on the sample, and we sometimes propose improved recipes. At this time, as a semiconductor manufacturing professional, we always try to be an engineer who can make additional(plus-alpha) suggestions, saying, "This way of making things is more efficient"
It is also important to always be "willing to learn" as the position requires knowledge in a wide range of fields. In the course of my work, I often find myself thinking, "What does this mean?" Each time, I am required to think and solve problems from multiple perspectives: electrical knowledge is necessary for semiconductor characteristics, physical knowledge for how semiconductors work, mechanical knowledge for how equipment works when things are manufactured in a factory, chemical knowledge for some manufacturing processes, and so on. Therefore, a "will to learn" is a must. This is sometimes hard ... but rewarding.
Growing up to global level. Growing up to global level. Sufficient OJT
My goal now is to become an engineer who can communicate with people from all over the world. The project I am currently involved in is for a customer of a company in the US, but there are people from various countries such as India and Russia. I want to become fluent in English so that I can work better with them. USJC has a very good in-house training program, so you can learn from basic English conversation to specialized semiconductor English.
In addition, because USJC is one of the few foundries in Japan that specializes in semiconductor foundry, it has more opportunities to engage in technology and know-how from around the world than semiconductor manufacturers who design, manufacture, and sell their own products. This is a work environment where anyone with intellectual curiosity can get a chance to play an active role. While enjoying learning, I work globally from a local place called Mie, which is full of greenery and warmth of people.
How OB enjoying their day off?
Camping and snowboarding.
I spend my time off at leisure!
I love the outdoors, so on my days off I often go out and spend time in nature. Since I can actively take paid holidays, so I use it effectively by adjusting my schedule and making it a three-day weekend with Saturdays and Sundays. Last year, I used up all the paid leave I was given. I feel that I can concentrate on my work well because I can make the most of my private time.
