Semiconductor Engineering Workforce Challenges, Industry and Academia

This paper will start by exploring what the semiconductor industry is looking for in an expanded entry level engineering workforce and what the industry challenges are to successfully meeting the employment targets. As a compliment, the paper will then look at the challenges in academia to fill (in a sustained manner) the increased BS level engineering positions that industry is calling for. Finally the paper will trace the origin of educational offerings of a semiconductor Manufacturing Execution System Application (MESA) in Rochester Institute of Technology’s Microelectronic Engineering program from its roots in 1982 through the present day update to Siemens Op-Center Execution Semiconductor software environment. This curriculum and course highlights the many challenges faced by universities in meeting the semiconductor industry workforce demands.