OEM or FAB?

1. A semiconductor original equipment manufacturer (OEM) designs and sells the tools used by Fabs to manufacture microchips.?

These tools include?

• Deposition tools like MOCVD-epitaxy, ALD, CVD, PECVD, etc.,??
• Dry etch tools like RIE, RIE-ICP, etc.,?
• Wet bench tools for wet etch, surface prep., etc.,?
• Photolithography tools like scanners, tracks, etc.,?
• Characterization tools,?
• Chemical precursor manufacturers etc.?

?2. In most cases, OEMs don't just design, manufacture, and support tools, but also develop a process for a material/layer based on the Fab’s requirements.?

3. OEMs develop the process for a particular tool and essentially sell the process along with the equipment.?

4. Fabs will buy the tools along with an almost mature process and further develop it based on their microchip layer integration needs.?

5. Essentially, OEMs do most of the process development R&D work for their tools, sometimes standalone and sometimes in tandem with Fabs.?

6. Working at an OEM will expose new engineers to more R&D material/process development, but the amount of R or D in R&D varies from OEM to OEM.?

7. OEMs are responsible for one or a few particular layer/material/steps and are usually isolated from the microchip fabrication process and integration flow, which are tightly controlled by Fabs.