As the semiconductor manufacturing industry expands globally, it is forced to reckon with an incredibly competitive labor market with a limited pool of trained workers. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, an estimated 1.4 million industry jobs will go unfilled by 2030. Additionally, the US Census Bureau found that 52.1% of electronic component and product manufacturing workers were age 45 or older, meaning this cohort must be replaced within the next 20 years.

This massive need creates opportunities for existing suppliers to participate in new segments of the semiconductor value stream. The hundreds of long-time suppliers, semiconductor fabs and OEMs that hold significant specialized and in-demand knowledge and skills need to diversify and expand their offerings to help enable industry growth. Foresight Technologies has expanded to proactively meet these opportunities.

We pride ourselves on delivering high-purity plastics solutions, coupled with integrated associated skills such as mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, to serve the growing diversity of our clients’ needs and address critical workforce and supply chain gaps in the industry. Leveraging our core competencies and diversifying our product offerings have enabled us to become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

From Associated Skills to Mission-Critical Semiconductor Facility Infrastructure

Foresight Technologies has expanded throughout the US and Asia-Pacific markets over the last three decades by continuously upskilling our workforce to enhance our core capabilities. In addition to manufacturing chemical delivery equipment, we also provide MEP systems:

  • Mechanical: Our skills range from small helicoil installations to large system-integrated assembly and testing. We’ve added dedicated teams to build equipment in our shop or work alongside other trades for semiconductor fab construction. These dedicated teams can be deployed for project-based work or long-term roles. Each of them is extensively trained in safety and Foresight processes and procedures.

  • Electrical: We’ve increased our point-to-point wiring expertise with additional UL 508–certified employees and added PLC programming expertise. By partnering with global third-party programming experts, we can even meet requirements that exceed our in-house capabilities.

  • Plumbing: Plastic remains the preferred material in manufacturing plumbing fixtures and fittings. Through Foresight On-Site, we’ve added C5-licensed pipefitting services. Our knowledge of high-purity plastics enables us to help our clients perfect their unique piping designs.

Refining these MEP processes enables us to deliver essential, highly skilled technical expertise directly to the site where our customers need it most, from construction installations to field services. We develop a comprehensive understanding of how each skillset integrates, leading to advances in specialized parts, complex assemblies and integrated modules. These skills are rooted in a consistent focus on safety and risk management, with every employee receiving thorough safety training and dedicated on-site safety specialists continuously monitoring for hazards to reduce risk.

Yielding Trusted Innovation through Strategic Autonomy

Strategic partnerships with both public and private organizations power ongoing innovation in our product and service offerings. By participating in SEMI and the Arizona Commerce Authority’s workforce development strategic sessions, we have introduced new turnkey solutions manufactured entirely in-house. With an integrated supply chain, our forward-thinking team is ready to serve as a comprehensive provider, from manufacturing and field installation to post-installation service and decommissioning.

To achieve this, we looked inward. We analyzed how to best deliver high-quality products and services to our customers by leveraging our buying power to form strategic in-market partnerships with raw-material suppliers. From this, we developed a material requirements planning (MRP) agreement with our suppliers that enables us to maintain our quality differentiation while meeting our cost targets. These changes create a more resilient supply chain and workforce that can better weather future supply chain challenges.

We’re Here to Help You

Our team of lifelong plastics-industry experts is eager to help advance the field. We’d love to discuss how we can support you in achieving your goals and ensuring your business has a skilled workforce to keep operating at peak capacity.

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