Because of the complex/multi-disciplinary nature of the semiconductor industry and the rapidly changing technology where product lifecycles are as short as 2-3 years, engineers require ongoing training and advanced education in new materials and processes in semiconductor manufacturing. In Arizona, Manufacturing accounts for more than 200,000 jobs in the state of Arizona, and generates roughly 15% of wages and salaries. Arizona has been particularly successful in attracting high-technology industries, which have a total economic impact of $33 billion per year in the state. Nearly 56 percent of all manufacturing employment is in this sector.
Indeed, the Greater Phoenix area is known in high-tech circles as “The Silicon Desert”, and is home to many high-profile large and medium size chip manufacturers including Intel, Motorola, Microchip, STMicroelectronics, and ON semiconductor, as well as smaller chip packaging houses such as Flip Chip and Amkor, manufacturing equipment suppliers such as Speedfam-IPEC, TEL and ASM, and finally chemical and other consumables suppliers such as Rodel and Arch Chemicals.
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