McKinsey on Semiconductors, Issue 4

December 1, 2014 – This connectivity trend is now recognized as a source of growth for semiconductor players and their customers. Here we consider the opportunities and constraints for components manufacturers.

December 1, 2014 – The CEO of semiconductor company CSR, Joep van Beurden, discusses the progress—and growing pains—of the Internet of Things market.

August 1, 2014 – China is stepping up efforts to become a major player in semiconductor design and manufacturing. If it succeeds, integrated-circuit companies around the world could face significant risks and opportunities.

September 1, 2014 – Steven Mollenkopf and Murthy Renduchintala offer their take on the technology, talent, and business strategies required to keep pace in an industry that continues to evolve.

September 1, 2014 – The CEO of a multinational technology firm discusses the state of innovation in the semiconductor industry.

September 1, 2014 – MEMS technology continues to thrive in familiar markets, but with the advent of the Internet of Things, a significant new opportunity is emerging for industry players.

September 1, 2014 – They may want to consider adopting one of four basic organizational structures.

September 1, 2014 – Companies should seek faster, more cost-effective ways to test the quality of complex system-on-a-chip devices.

September 1, 2014 – Four insights on the people, places, and processes that could help companies optimize output.

September 1, 2014 – Adoption of 3-D technologies appears inevitable, creating both opportunities and risks.

September 1, 2014 – To succeed with their lean initiatives, managers should focus on improving plant uptime, equipment utilization, process variability, and product quality.

September 1, 2014 – Companies that use a set of core analytics to assess consumption patterns can gain better control of production expenses.

September 1, 2014 – A systematic process for assessing supplier and customer capabilities and relationships can help semiconductor companies identify adjacent markets and promising opportunities.

The big question facing the sector is what it will take to move beyond the current period of sluggish returns. Will the next year herald the start of the Semi 2.0 era—a new period of improved performance and value creation? Or will revenues and growth remain relatively flat? The articles in this issue directly address these questions.