MalaysianUpdates

Tag: #SemiconductorIndustry

  • Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase Highlights Future-Ready Semiconductor Innovation at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026

    As Southeast Asia reaches a critical inflection point in the global semiconductor industry, the Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 will demonstrate how artificial intelligence, automation and digital solutions are reshaping semiconductor manufacturing. Powered by Sandisk and SEMI, the showcase presents intelligent manufacturing within a high-volume fabrication environment.

    Conceived as an immersive, guided experience rather than a static exhibition, the showcase takes visitors on a structured journey through the application of smart manufacturing in a high-value semiconductor fabrication setting. Through this curated walkthrough, attendees will gain insight into how automation, artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming manufacturing processes by enhancing decision-making, improving responsiveness and optimising overall operations in advanced production environments.

    The experience unfolds across multiple stations, illustrating the progression toward a fully intelligent, AI-enabled factory. Visitors will see how digital tools provide real-time visibility and enable faster operational decisions, support more efficient workflows and facilitate predictive and assisted troubleshooting to drive continuous improvement. These elements work together to translate complex concepts into practical, real-world applications that reflect the operations of modern semiconductor facilities.

    The showcase also highlights key technology areas shaping the future of manufacturing. Smart automation enables connected systems that reduce manual intervention and improve efficiency, while AI-enabled manufacturing positions artificial intelligence as an operations co-pilot that supports recommendations, detects anomalies and accelerates response times. This is reinforced by the digitalisation of production data, where structured data capture and automated processes generate reliable, high-quality inputs for analytics and AI-driven insights. In addition, the showcase underscores the importance of human and digital collaboration, demonstrating how intelligent tools are designed to enhance the capabilities of engineers and operators rather than replace them. Together, these pillars reflect a cohesive approach to building more responsive, data-driven and resilient manufacturing environments.

    Linda Tan, President of SEMI Southeast Asia, said the semiconductor industry is entering a defining phase where no single company or market can innovate in isolation. She noted that the “Transform Tomorrow” theme at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 reflects a shared commitment to turning collective ambition into tangible impact, with the Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase developed in collaboration with Sandisk offering a firsthand view of how AI-driven manufacturing is shaping the factories of the future.

    Peng Koon Hew, Senior Director of Automation Development Engineering at Sandisk, added that manufacturing excellence today is defined by how effectively organisations integrate human expertise with AI-driven insights and automated systems. He explained that this balance enables teams to make faster and more informed decisions, respond to variability with confidence and manage complexity while maintaining control on the factory floor.

    SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 will take place from 5 to 7 May at MiTEC, Kuala Lumpur, bringing together global and regional stakeholders to shape the next era of electronics manufacturing. Beyond discussions, the event is positioned as a platform for action where ideas are translated into real-world applications, with the Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase exemplifying this shift by demonstrating how transformation is already taking place across the industry.

    Registration for the Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase is now open, offering attendees an opportunity to experience smart manufacturing in action on the second day of SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026. The showcase forms part of the wider event, where industry leaders will gather to explore the future of the semiconductor ecosystem throughout the three-day programme. For more information, please visit the SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 website.

  • Malaysia to Host SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026, Uniting Global Leaders to Shape the Future of Semiconductors

    SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEMICON SEA) 2026, the region’s premier platform for the global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain, will return to the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from 5 to 7 May. Registration is now open.

    The event highlights the growing strategic importance of Southeast Asia within the global semiconductor ecosystem, as the region continues to strengthen its role in advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience. In Malaysia, the event is held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), reflecting the country’s continued commitment to strengthening its position in the global semiconductor value chain.

    SEMICON SEA 2026, themed Transform Tomorrow, will focus on accelerating next-generation technologies while addressing current structural challenges. It is expected to gather more than 20,000 innovators, policymakers, and technology experts, fostering collaboration across the international semiconductor ecosystem while delivering insights into artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, sustainability, workforce development, advanced packaging, supplier sourcing, and other key areas.

    The global semiconductor industry is projected to reach USD1 trillion in annual sales by 2026, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Market analysts note that Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant growth engine for the industry, outperforming the broader market in recent years, supported by sustained expansion in manufacturing capacity, assembly, testing, and packaging activities, as well as deeper integration into global supply chains.

    According to Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI, the semiconductor industry is entering a new era defined by ecosystem-wide collaboration. He noted that SEMICON Southeast Asia reflects this shift through programmes designed to bridge innovation and execution, from design through manufacturing, and expressed SEMI’s anticipation of hosting the event in Malaysia, a long-established semiconductor hub.

    Linda Tan, President of SEMI Southeast Asia, said SEMICON Southeast Asia serves as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation by bringing together industry leaders, visionaries, and experts to address pressing challenges and explore emerging opportunities, enabling stakeholders to shape the future of the semiconductor industry.

    In Malaysia, the semiconductor industry is entering its next phase of growth from a position of strength. The electrical and electronics (E&E) sector secured RM28.5 billion in approved investments in 2025, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the national manufacturing economy and a trusted node in the global technology supply chain. SEMICON SEA 2026 comes at a time when Malaysia is moving beyond its established strengths in assembly and test towards higher-value activities, including design, advanced packaging, and innovation-driven manufacturing.

    According to Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, the semiconductor industry is at an inflection point and Malaysia intends to be at the centre of its next phase. He noted that under the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, Malaysia is not only maintaining its position in the global semiconductor supply chain but actively reshaping it. He added that strong investment fundamentals, including RM28.5 billion in E&E investments in 2025, reflect continued global confidence in Malaysia, which the country is building upon through supply chain integration, local capability development, and high-value partnerships. MIDA, he said, is an active builder of the industry’s next chapter in Malaysia, working collaboratively to shape its future.

    SEMICON SEA 2026 will focus on several key pillars, including artificial intelligence and intelligent manufacturing, sustainability, talent development, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, and supplier sourcing. These areas aim to accelerate innovation, strengthen ecosystem linkages, and support the development of a future-ready workforce.

    MIDA will also lead several initiatives at the event, including a Supply Chain Integration & Capability Enhancement Forum to strengthen industry linkages and supplier capabilities, a Digital Twin & Smart Manufacturing Seminar for SMEs to enhance technological adoption, and the Handshake@SEMICON programme, which facilitates structured engagements between global industry leaders and Malaysian stakeholders to accelerate investment and partnerships. In addition, MIDA will contribute to workforce development discussions through SEMI’s TECH Zoomers programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), focusing on talent trends and future skills in the semiconductor sector.

    SEMICON SEA 2026 is further supported by leading global industry sponsors, including GlobalFoundries, Lam Research, Micron, Sandisk Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited, Applied Materials, Schneider Electric, SGS, Soitec, STATS ChipPAC, Advantest, ASE, KLA, Kulicke & Soffa, Siemens, and STMicroelectronics.

    Registration for SEMICON SEA 2026 is now open. For full programme and conference details, please visit the SEMICON SEA website.