Intel's Foundry Ambitions: A Bet Against the House
Intel's Relaunch of its Foundry Business: A Bet Against the House
The semiconductor industry has undergone significant changes in the last decade, with the rise of dedicated foundry manufacturers and the challenges of keeping up with Moore's Law. Intel, once the leader in both semiconductor design and manufacturing, has seen its dominance slip as it struggled to keep up with the pace of innovation. Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, joins us to discuss the changes in the industry and the challenges Intel faces in its attempts to reboot its foundry business.
Changes in the Semiconductor Industry
The semiconductor industry has evolved significantly over the past two decades. Intel once held dominance as both a designer and manufacturer of chips, but other companies have emerged as serious competitors. Ben explains how Intel's inability to keep up with Moore's Law and its shift to a more conservative approach to process development cycles enabled Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) to become the dominant player in the foundry market. TSMC's strategy of stable process development cycles, scale, and capacity to serve as a reliable manufacturing partner made it the preferred choice for major chip designers.
The Complexities of the Semiconductor Supply Chain
The global semiconductor supply chain is complex, with companies spread across many geographies. Ben discusses the inherent challenges of such a supply chain and how disruptions, such as COVID, can have severe consequences. He also notes that nationalization of semiconductor manufacturing is impractical due to the global interdependence of the industry and the need for close collaboration.
Intel's Strategy and Prospects
Ben analyzes Intel's previous attempts at offering foundry services and the challenges it faced. He highlights Intel's priority on its products and technologies rather than catering to customer needs. This approach led to a lack of trust from potential customers and uncertainty over Intel's commitment to the foundry business. However, Intel has since made efforts to improve its foundry business by structuring it separately from its core design organization and learning from past mistakes.
Ben emphasizes that Intel's transformation in its foundry business, including clear operational divisions, enhanced customer service, and a commitment to technological advancement, is critical to its success in the competitive semiconductor manufacturing sector. He highlights that Intel is making strides in rebuilding trust and establishing itself as a legitimate player in the foundry space, which is crucial for its ambitions to compete with established foundries like TSMC.
In conclusion, Intel's relaucnh of its foundry business is a bold bet filled with uncertainty. Rooted in the national interest and the need to ensure semiconductor leadership in the U.S., it faces numerous formidable competitors. The success of the endeavor hinges on many factors outside of Intel's control and an unprecedented level of cooperation both domestically and internationally.