First Pass Silicon: Myth or Reality?

The semiconductor industry has long pursued the goal of achieving first pass silicon success – bringing a design from concept to working silicon on the first try. This achievement promises cost efficiency, faster time to market, and competitive edge. Yet, it appears that this dream may be drifting further out of reach.

Understanding the Decline

According to the 2022 Wilson Research Group study, the rate of first silicon success in the IC/ASIC market has hit the lowest level recorded in the past 20 years. Historically, approximately 30% of all IC/ASIC projects achieved first silicon success. However, this figure fell to a mere 24% in 2022, indicating the lowest percentage of required spins over the last two decades.

One of the key contributors to this decline is the increase in flaws attributable to analog issues. With the rising integration of analog components across varying design sizes, challenges associated with analog elements have become more prominent.

The Implications

The drop in first pass silicon success, combined with escalating costs of wafers and masks, presents a significant concern for the industry. Each additional silicon iteration not only inflates production costs but also pushes back the time to market, impacting a company's profitability and competitive standing.

Verification's Key Role and the Need for AMS Focus

Amid this trend, verification assumes a role of critical importance. An exhaustive and meticulous verification process can detect potential flaws early in the design process, enabling their rectification before proceeding to silicon.

However, while digital verification is well-established, the focus on Analog and Mixed Signal (AMS) verification needs to be intensified given the issues emerging in these areas. Verification is a highly specialized field, and the current market is witnessing a shortage of skilled mixed signal verification engineers. This presents further challenges to semiconductor companies as the costs and time associated with hiring and training new team members continue to rise.

A Possible Solution

In the face of these challenges, our verification contracting services present an effective solution. We offer a team of expert mixed signal verification engineers who are ready to augment your existing workforce. With our AI-driven tools, we can expedite and enhance your verification process, mitigating the risk of flaws and increasing your likelihood of achieving first pass silicon success.

In conclusion, while the vision of consistent first pass silicon success may currently seem more like a myth than reality, effective and focused verification, particularly in the realm of AMS, can significantly tilt the odds in your favor. By partnering with us, you can bolster your verification process, manage costs, hasten your time to market, and transform the myth into reality.

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