Partnering for total quality: an industry´s blueprint to regain and retain competitiveness

The author describes a step-by-step process of implementing total quality as a way of life within the semiconductor industry supply-chain. While this process utilizes the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award criteria as a foundation, the application of these criteria has been tailored to this industry. In doing so it adds additional dimensions to these criteria by bringing them to the level of understanding of the average individual in an average company within the industry. It also provides useful knowhow information and expands on the partnering process between customers and suppliers that is essential for any company to remain viable within this competitive industry. Some of the lessons that have been learned from SEMATECH´s active involvement in deploying the partnering for total quality process across the supply-chain are discussed