Strategic Partner for the Future of the Semiconductor Business
Turning your company’s challengesinto opportunities with 38 years of technology and management experience and cutting-edge AI knowledge
Do you have any of these problems?
- We are part of the semiconductor industry, but it doesn’t translate into growth rates.”
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Even though the semiconductor manufacturing industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8~10%, your company has not been able to realize it.
- New markets are fascinating, but I don’t know where to start.”
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You have experience in advanced technology and equipment development, but are wondering how to concretize your entry into new areas (materials, equipment, control systems, Fab infrastructure, etc.)
- The technology is excellent, but it doesn’t capture what the customer wants.”
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Even if cutting-edge development is achieved at the field level, it does not match market needs and does not lead to orders.
- We want to promote DX, but we don’t know where to start.
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Efforts to improve AI, data analysis, and business efficiency are necessary, but they end only with technological verification and do not provide a return on investment.
- We are considering M&A and alliances, but lack experience in strategic planning and due diligence.”
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The company is considering M&A as the next growth driver, but has not yet established a system to organize the terms and conditions and to look ahead to the integration (PMI) phase.
Why Choose Amico Consulting?
(1) 38 years in the semiconductor industry: Knowledgeable about both sides of the industry
- Experience as an equipment manufacturer ⇔ semiconductor manufacturer: Since joining Tokyo Electron in 1983, he has been consistently engaged in the development of semiconductor manufacturing equipment; from 2014 to 2019, he served as Senior Vice President at Samsung Semiconductor R&D Center, leading cutting-edge research and development [].
- Experience in technical collaboration both domestically and internationally: involved in collaborations with major consortia and universities such as Sematech, SRC, imec, SEMI, etc., and has extensive practical experience in M&A and DD (due diligence).
- He has lectured and written extensively at SEMI STS and ALE Symposium, and is highly regarded for his knowledge in the industry.
2) Unique “breakthrough thinking” to uncover latent issues
- Combining critical thinking andlateral thinking to create ideas that overturn conventional thinking.
- Using design thinking and TRIZ approaches, the essence of the problem is extracted from multiple directions to construct the optimal solution.
- Clarify “what is really valuable” and “how it should be delivered to the market” from the perspectives of both management and the field.
(3) Extensive lineup of consulting services
- Strategic planning type
- Core competency extraction & market matching search
- Competitor and customer analysis based on 3C and SWOT
- Business model building and revenue model reform
- Long-term portfolio strategy, M&A planning
- development-driven
- Support for wall-capping and promotion of manufacturing equipment development projects
- From specification to development planning and PMO support
- Support for pilot facility construction and proof-of-concept (PoC) execution
- problem-solving type
- Defect analysis, quality problem handling (yield improvement, reliability enhancement)
- Proposals for improvement of manufacturing processes and support for resolving technical issues
- Strengthen organizational systems, support continuous improvement through PDCA
- Information gathering and analysis type
- Technology trend and market trend analysis (semiconductor equipment, materials, control, IoT collaboration, etc.)
- Prepare reports for investors and materials for CVC
- Selection of analysis methods and construction of dashboards for data analysis/AI implementation
- Promotion Strategy Type
- Presentation of customer evaluation points and assistance in preparing presentation materials
- Exhibition and online marketing planning and execution support
- Designing approaches and providing sales know-how to develop new clients
- DX Promotion Support Type
- Current situation assessment (maturity diagnosis) and needs identification
- Business flow improvement, requirement definition, system implementation consulting
- PMO support for AI/IoT implementation projects, post-implementation feedback and continuous improvement
All of our services take a “hybrid” approach that combines technology and management perspectives to support the creation of a system that enables your company’s frontline and management to face the same direction and perform PDCA cycles.
4) Extensive track record and trust
- Support Achievements (some examples)
- Marketability verification of semiconductor manufacturing equipment components (component manufacturer / SME)
- New product development project promotion (OEM/SME)
- Quality issue analysis of semiconductor related materials (TSE prime listed materials manufacturer)
- Semiconductor industry entry study consulting (chemical materials manufacturer)
- M&A Strategy Planning Support (Equipment Manufacturer/SME)
- Supply Chain Trend Analysis (TSE Prime listed materials manufacturer)
- DX Promotion and Data Analysis Framework Proposal (Material Maker / TSE Prime)
- Experience in a wide range of support activities, such as investor seminars (banks, CVC), etc.
- Client Attributes
- We support a wide range of sizes and industries, from listed companies (TSE Prime, TSE 1st section) to small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Many companies upstream in the supply chain, including equipment manufacturers, material manufacturers, trading companies, fab equipment companies, and maintenance vendors.
- Global knowledge that has worked with major manufacturers in Japan and abroad (Japan, U.S., Korea, China).
Overall picture of the support process
- Hearing of management issues
- Through interviews with management and business unit managers, we thoroughly listen to your company’s current situation, medium- to long-term vision, and hidden concerns.
- We use breakthrough thinking to uncover the “hard-to-see issues” unique to the semiconductor industry and uncover the true needs of the industry.
- Understanding of current situation and issues
- Organize internal and external information and data based on 3C (Customer/Competitor/Company) and SWOT.
- PEST analysis of technology and market trends to identify issues based on changes in the environment.
- Information gathering and analysis
- Conduct market research using data analysis (BI tools, AI utilization) and proprietary networks.
- Customer interviews and competitive research are used to develop hypotheses of business opportunities.
- Strategic and business planning
- Visualize profit structure and differentiation factors by utilizing the Business Model Canvas.
- When considering M&A and alliances, we develop a roadmap that includes a valuation and PMI plan.
- Prepare a business plan (including a 5-10 year roadmap) and assist in obtaining approval at the management meeting.
- Development planning and implementation support
- Developed prototype development plans in the areas of manufacturing equipment and materials, and supported project progress through a PMO structure.
- We follow up with a full range of services, including specification study, PoC, design review, pilot line construction, and preparation for mass production.
- Demonstration and data analysis
- Conduct demonstration tests and beta tests and analyze results to quantitatively understand technical performance and customer evaluations.
- Visualize the results of quality and yield improvement, cost reduction, and production efficiency improvement through the introduction of AI/IoT.
- Market introduction and result verification
- Based on the launch plan, build sales channels and implement marketing measures.
- Monitor sales performance and customer feedback to verify whether short- and mid-term KPIs are being achieved.
- Continuous improvement and next stage planning
- Conduct a post-market review and consider strategies for the next product upgrade or new market expansion.
- In some cases, we will propose additional M&A or new alliances to support the sustainable growth of your company.
Customer Comments (excerpts)
Amico Consulting was able to pinpoint the “unseen issues” in our equipment development. By following their recommendations, we were able to develop a strategy to differentiate our products, improve our production capacity, and be more flexible in dealing with our customers.
– Semiconductor equipment manufacturer (medium-sized company)
“The points you made, rooted in your extensive experience in the industry, allowed us to notice perspectives that our staff had overlooked. We can now present quality improvement measures to our customers.”
Semiconductor materials manufacturer (major company)
‘The advice from the user’s perspective allowed us to compare and contrast product strategy options and make objective choices. We were also able to review our promotional strategy and reflect it in a more compelling website, trade show panels, etc.”
– Surface finishing company (medium-sized company)
Approaches to Problem Solving
Breakthrough Thinking Process
broaden one’s imagination
Design Thinking. We use methods such as lateral thinking to examine the above formulas and preconceived notions.
establish a vector
From the perspective of Purpose Management, we clarify customer value, downstream objectives, and high-level objectives to determine the direction in which to proceed.
Building a Data Infrastructure
We support agile operations with analysis based on critical thinking and creative human resources and organizations.
Amico Consulting’s Distinctive Know-How
Breakthrough thinking
A way of thinking that questions conventional wisdom and leads to essential problem-solving solutions
Extensive industry experience
Track record of project promotion at major domestic and overseas semiconductor and equipment manufacturers
Technology x Management Hybrid
Support system that combines both technical discernment and business strategy
Global Connections
Experience working with consortia such as Sematech, imec, SRC, SEMI, etc.
Various Methods
3C analysis, SWOT, PEST, BMC, TRIZ, design thinking, lateral thinking
Extensive qualifications
JDLA G and E certifications, Python 3 Engineer Certification, DX Certification Expert, and many more.
Service Flow and Contract Type
Initial Hearing (free of charge)
We will first conduct a one-hour online or in-person hearing to sort out your company’s issues and needs.
There is no particular fee before signing the contract.
- Based on the results of the interviews, AMICO prepares a “proposal exclusively for your company.
- If necessary, a sample analysis and PoC plan are presented to share a concrete image of the results.
- Contract types can be selected according to your company’s needs, including advisory contracts, spot consulting, and lectures/seminars.
- In the initial phase, there are many “advisory consignment contracts (directly or via agencies)” and “spot contracts (wall-to-wall support),” and the scope of support will be expanded in stages.
- Progress task execution, data analysis, and strategic planning in accordance with the proposal.
- Periodic progress report meetings and review meetings are held, and plans are revised as necessary.
- After the project is completed, the results are evaluated and a retrospective report is submitted.
- We can provide ongoing support by proposing measures for improvement and new measures for the next period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is it possible to just have a consultation?
A. Yes. First, we will conduct a free one-hour hearing to sort out your issues and needs. There is no initial fee, so please feel free to contact us.
Q2. I don’t have any information in the industry, can you help me?
A. Don’t worry. We have experience supporting many companies in the upstream supply chain, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment, materials, control systems, and Fab infrastructure, and can provide industry knowledge from scratch.
Q3: To what extent can you support us with your M&A know-how?
A. We handle the entire process from the strategic planning phase to valuation, due diligence (DD), and PMI planning. In fact, we have experience in M&A projects for major overseas manufacturers.
Q4. Is remote assistance available?
A. Yes. We can proceed seamlessly with online meetings, data acquisition and analysis, and report writing. On-site visits will also be conducted as needed.
Free Consultation/Contact Us
- Email: masa.tomoyasu@amiko.consulting
- Phone: 090-3982-0961 (weekdays 9:00-18:00)
Amico Consulting, LLC
Masayuki Tomoyasu, CEO
Advisor, Manufacturing Sector, KPMG Japan
Creating the Semiconductor Industry of the Future Together
We accelerate your company’s “growth” with our 38 years of experience and the latest DX and AI know-how.
Information and services on this page are subject to change without notice. Please note that the information and services on this page are subject to change without notice.
