The SEMATECH SSQA for supplier quality assessment and continuous improvement

A common problem confronting the semiconductor industry is the number of redundant and often conflicting quality audits device manufacturers require of their suppliers-the members of SEMI. Thousands of hours and millions of dollars are consumed by customers and suppliers annually in the search for the holy grail of supplier quality. Customers and suppliers alike are subject to a disorganized pursuit for meaningful information about supplier quality. One approach being used by SEMATECH member companies is a Standardized Supplier Quality Assessment, or SSQA. These companies have agreed to use a common documentation and quality assessment process and to cooperate in staffing the assessment teams. This paper reports on the results and benefits of the SEMATECH SSQA assessments in the industry. Information was obtained from a survey of SEMATECH members and companies that have participated in the SSQA process. Results are reported in graphical form to compare the expectations of the device manufacturers and the companies subject to the assessment. The survey attempts to provide insight into the effectiveness of the SSQA process in gathering quality data, as a mechanism for partnering between supplier/customer and as a tool for continuous improvement.