An Overview of the Semiconductor Industry

Semiconductor Industry Primer

This primer covers all semiconductor industry essentials, including what it takes to design and fabricate semiconductor 'chips'. Topics include: an introduction to the technology and the end-use products, the value chain, key players (like Intel, Samsung, TSMC, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and ASML), and the major trends to expect.

Course: 8 Chapters

Est. time: 45 mins

What's Covered In This Primer?

Introduction

Semiconductor Fundamentals

Products

Value Chain

Market Landscape

Design Deep Dive

Fabrication Deep Dive

Trends

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Chapter 1 Breakdown

Overview of the semiconductor industry

Chapter 2 Breakdown

How does a semiconductor work?
What are transistors?
What are integrated circuits?

Chapter 3 Breakdown

Understanding the different types of semiconductors

Chapter 4 Breakdown

What are the key steps in the development of a semiconductor?
How is a semiconductor fabricated?

Chapter 5 Breakdown

Who are the key players in the industry?
What are integrated device manufacturers (IDM)?
What are foundries?

Chapter 6 Breakdown

What are the key challenges faced by a design company?
What are the key processes in chip design?
What is the common organizational structure in a design company?

Chapter 7 Breakdown

What are the key challenges faced by a fabrication company?
What are the key processes in semiconductor fabrication?
What is the common organizational structure in a fabrication company?

Chapter 8 Breakdown

What trends will likely impact the industry in the next 3-5 years?

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Semiconductor Industry Trends

Growing demand

Consumer demand for smarter devices have led to an increase in semiconductor use. In addition, growth of AI has driven demand for graphics processing units (GPUs), which are multi-tasking chips used in gaming and AI training.

Vulnerability of the economy to shocks in the semiconductor industry

A small number of players dominate the key segments in the semiconductor industry. If any one of these solutions or companies were to fail, the whole industry - and the entire economy - would be disrupted.

Government actions

Governments are highly invested in securing their national supply of semiconductors. This is leading to increasing geopolitical tension and governmental actions, such as the efforts to boost domestic capacity, and to limit or challenge the capacity of other countries.

How Our Semiconductor Industry Primer Can Help

Build A Foundation

Go from newbie to knowledgeable in under an hour! Our primers break down the essentials of an entire industry - products, trends, terminology, and more - into a concise, easy-to-digest format. Gain the knowledge you need quickly, so you can hit the ground running with confidence and clarity.

Boost Your Credibility & Confidence

Stand out when it counts! Our primers are packed with industry insights, allowing you to navigate professional conversations with greater confidence and leave a lasting impression. With a solid foundation in industry knowledge, you'll feel prepared for any client conversation that comes your way.

Gain Competitive Edge

Nothing beats knowing! Our primers are concise but we never skimp on insights. Staying up-to-date on industry challenges, opportunities, and trends empowers business leaders to make informed strategic decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

Primed for Success

Trustworthy insights, sourced from subject matter experts

Organized and streamlined into digestible lessons

Presented in binge-worthy videos that learners love

Testimonials

I really enjoyed how easy it was to follow along. The language used combined with the pictures drawn really helped me understand an otherwise complex topic.

- Consultant

Super easy to understand, covers all the jargons someone who first meets this industry needs to know. Thank you!

- Management Consultant

Learning semiconductors on such a detailed level is new to me but this lesson helped tremendously!

- SaaS Sales Professional

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a primer?

Think of a primer as your quick-start guide to understanding the landscape of an industry (such as Investment Banking, Renewable Energy, Retail, etc.).

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Industry information is readily available but Googling can lead you down a rabbit hole of scattered, inconsistent and text-heavy resources - leaving a fragmented picture of the industry. And this content can miss the mark: they’re either too long and full of extraneous details, making it tough for beginners to find what they need, or too short, leaving out critical detail.

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Primerli is changing this! All our primers are presented in a concise, engaging format, covering everything you need to know in binge-worthy videos.

Who are the primers intended for?

Primers are perfect for anyone looking to understand an industry, fast. Whether you’re a consultant preparing for a case in telecom; a salesperson hoping to make headway with a big pharmaceutical customer, or a student preparing for their first job interview, primers are the prep step that enables success.

How long does it take to complete a primer?

A full primer takes less than an hour. We pack tons of insights into each primer collection of bite-sized, binge-worthy videos that you can watch anytime, anywhere. Perfect for busy schedules - because learning shouldn’t take forever.

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And for industry aficionados, our primers are split into sections so you can bypass the introductory info and stay up-to-date on trends or brush up on terminology in less than 10 minutes.

What topics does the primer cover?

Each industry primer covers the essentials: key trends, terminology, value chain, economics, and products & services. But some of our technology and functional topic primers include additional sections to make sure all the critical information is covered and each primer is comprehensive.

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