Danze
highlighted the NSS's emphasis on domestic direct investment (DDI), and how
certain emerging industries will drive semiconductor demand. “The EV sector and
AI applications will significantly drive semiconductor chip demand,
necessitating the expansion of data centres and advanced chip manufacturing.
“As the only player in the semiconductor industry with
solutions across the entire value chain – from research to design and
production - Siemens is committed to supporting the NSS and Malaysia’s
semiconductor industry more broadly. This comprehensive involvement allows Siemens to
deliver unmatched expertise and solutions at every stage of semiconductor
manufacturing,” Danze remarked.
Siemens
Malaysia is further giving effect to the Prime Minister’s call to nurture some
60,000 engineers in the semiconductor space over the next decade.
“This resonates with Siemens because we believe
strongly that it is essential to bridge the talent gap by equipping workers
with the latest knowledge and competencies in advanced semiconductor
technologies. To this end, we have been partnering with the Selangor Technical
Skills Development Centre (STDCx) and other local universities to develop
cutting-edge syllabus to upskill existing workforce, and equipping incoming
talents,” added Danze.
Building
sustainability into chipmaking
A report by Boston
Consulting Group (BCG) and SEMI, the global industry association that
represents the semiconductor industry, indicates that approximately 65% of
manufacturing emissions in the semiconductor industry are attributable to
electricity generation alone. The same report found that the value chain –
including design automation and intellectual property, water fabrication, chip
design, package, assembly, and test – is responsible for 0.3% of global carbon emissions
and includes another 1% in upstream and downstream suppliers and users.
Helping the industry improve on sustainability is a key priority for Siemens. “With Siemens Xcelerator and advanced technologies like digital twin and AI, we harness data to create efficiencies and value, empowering organizations to adapt to changing needs,” said Katharina Westrich, Global Head of Electronics, Semiconductors & Simulation at Siemens AG.
“In fact, our own plants showcase this commitment, equipped with the
latest automation and digitalization solutions. Siemens offers comprehensive,
end-to-end digitalization for semiconductor processes, enabling companies to
become sustainable digital enterprises. By standardizing procedures and
providing real-time insights from digital twins, we help semiconductor
companies achieve operational excellence.”
Siemens is addressing these challenges in multiple ways, for example, by also optimizing power distribution networks, ensuring reliable, efficient, and safe electricity delivery, and integrating smart technologies into buildings to enhance safety, efficiency, and comfort for semiconductor manufacturing. The company’s Facility Monitoring and Control System FMCS provides a holistic approach that integrates all systems, leading to extremely high productivity and availability.
Siemens
has also adopted scalable predictive maintenance in industries such as
manufacturing, energy, and transportation. Utilizing sensor data, analytics,
and artificial intelligence (AI), Siemens monitors equipment health, predicts
failures, and optimizes maintenance activities, thus improving operational
efficiency and reducing downtime. An example is the Senseye Predictive
Maintenance solution, which enables asset intelligence across plants without
the need for manual analysis, helping manufacturers increase productivity, work
more sustainably, and accelerate digital transformation.
Siemens’s
participation at Semicon SEA 2024 underscored its commitment to supporting
Malaysia's semiconductor industry through innovation, sustainability, and
workforce development.