GEORGE TOWN: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) on Tuesday inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Fabtronic Sdn Bhd and Advantest (Singapore) Pte Ltd in Tokyo, paving the way for a shared services test laboratory and skills development training programme here.
NCIA chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq said the training programme was designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of semiconductor test engineers in test development and product characterisation.
As the regional enabler, he said NCIA sees the need to elevate the semiconductor industry in Malaysia, especially in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
"High-value activities and jobs will be created as a direct spillover from this initiative, including the creation of a talent pool through the skills development programme," he said in a statement.
He said the establishment of the first semiconductor test lab in the region would further develop of semiconductor industry in Malaysia.
He said Malaysia's shipments of semiconductors in 2013 were worth RM111.19 billion or 47% of total electrical and electronic exports.
"The setting up of this initiative locally will improve the turnaround time for product development for both MNCs and local businesses, thus reducing cost and positioning Koridor Utara (NCER) as a destination of choice for semiconductor and related industries," Redza said.
Fabtronic chairman Datuk Siti Balkish Shariff said the signing of the tri-partite MoU would position Fabtronic to be the first shared services test lab for the semiconductor industry in Southe-Est Asia.
She said Fabtronic has set up the shared services test facility hub in Bayan Lepas by installing Advantest's Smart Scale V93000 automated test equipment (ATE).
"This facility will complement the upcoming 8-inch and 12-inch wafer die-preparation facility as well as the existing flip-chip assembly lines owned by Fabtronic," she added.
She said the facility is located at the NCIA Technology Development Center in Phase 4, Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone.
Fabtronic provides outsourcing services for the semiconductor industry, particularly in flip-chip product assembly, while Advantest is a leading producer of automatic test equipment for the semiconductor industry and a premier manufacturer of measuring instruments. - Bernama
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