Semiconductor Industry – Impact of Wafer Fabrication Equipment and Its Respective Processes and Critical Materials for Advanced Packaging 

   Dr. Kitty Pearsall

   IEEE Fellow，EPS Distinguished Lecturer，EPS Past President

Abstract: 

The global semiconductor industry is the core of modern technology electronics "powering everything" from consumer electronics, advanced packages, high performance chips, AI Data Centers and more. This industry has grown at an increasing pace since 2023. The next decade for the global semiconductor industry is predicted to continue this growth at a daunting rate. The global semiconductor industry was valued at more than $650 billion US dollars in 2024, closed the year at 710 B US dollars.(Gartner). Per Deloitte "the global semiconductor industry is projected to reach 975 B US dollars in 2026". Deloitte expects that annual sales of 2 T US dollars by 2036 is possible. This dynamic growth of this industry can largely be attributed to one key segment of the semiconductor industry, the global Wafer Fabrication Equipment (WFE) segment.

Gartner highlights “the WFE market is a mirror of the semiconductor industry's complexity. It reflects not only technology needs, but also regional policy, industrial capacity, and the deep segmentation that defines how chips are made.” Currently the WFE revenue is about 135.1 B US dollars, which equates to between 14 to 17 percent of the global semiconductor industry revenue.

Speaker's Biography: 

KITTY PEARSALL (IEEE Fellow) received the BS degree in Metallurgical Engineering (1971) from the UT El Paso. Kitty received the MS and Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials from the UT Austin in 1979 and 1983, respectively. Kitty worked for IBM from 1972 to 2013. In 2005 Kitty became both an IBM DE and a member of IBM Academy of Technology. Kitty was a process consultant and subject matter expert working on strategic initiatives impacting component qualification and end quality of procured commodities. She engaged with worldwide teams implementing cross-brand, cross commodity processes/products that delivered high quality/high reliability end-product.

Kitty holds 12 US patents, and eight published disclosures. She has numerous internal publications as well as twenty-two external publications in her field. Kitty is a licensed Professional Engineer (Texas since 1993). Kitty was the recipient of the UT Austin - Cockrell Engineering Distinguished Engineering Graduate Award in 2007 followed by induction as a charter member into the UT Mechanical Engineering Dept. Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2008. Currently Kitty is an independent consultant for Capstan Technologies.

Kitty is an active member in IEEE and EPS and has more than 30 years' experience with ECTC. During Kitty's 20 years on the CPMT Board of Governors and is currently the EPS Senior Past President and an EPS Distinguished Lecturer on Supply Chain.