Guest Editorial Special Section on the 2016 International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing

Since its start in 1992 in Japan, the International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing (ISSM) has provided unique opportunities to share the best practices of semiconductor manufacturing technologies for professionals worldwide. At the symposium, professionals assemble to discuss the technologies developed to meet worldwide requirements for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. It is crucial to re-examine semiconductor manufacturing in terms of fundamental principles to improve the performance of devices. In addition, manufacturing technologies that preserve the Earth’s environment will require new concepts and stronger collaborative efforts to find precompetitive solutions to the challenges posed.