Quanmatic and ROHM Implement Quantum Technology in Semiconductor 'Front-End' Manufacturing, Boosting Efficiency by 3%

Quanmatic Inc. has successfully implemented a quantum-based optimization system for the front-end semiconductor manufacturing process at the Miyazaki plant of LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd., a production base within the ROHM Group. The system began full-scale operation in January 2026, resulting in a 3% improvement in production efficiency. This initiative builds upon the expertise both companies gained from introducing quantum technology to the Electrical Die Sorting (EDS) process, expanding it to the more complex front-end process with its greater number of steps and constraints. Previously, the companies introduced a quantum-based optimization system to the EDS process, achieving results such as a 40% reduction in setup losses through optimized production planning. Based on the formulation techniques, robust computational design, and operational infrastructure knowledge accumulated during that process, they built a prototype in 2025 to explore its application to the larger and more complex front-end process. The front-end process is characterized by significantly more steps than the EDS process and conditions that change at each manufacturing stage while repeating the same steps. Consequently, it has been considered an area where bottlenecks easily occur and overall optimization is extremely difficult. In the front-end process, it is necessary to determine the processing order of lots and equipment while simultaneously considering a wide range of constraints, including hundreds of process conditions, equipment, processing conditions, sequence, delivery dates, and throughput. Automating these complex decision-making processes has enabled the creation of timely production plans. Furthermore, since many semiconductor manufacturing processes cannot be directly verified by human eyes, and errors in equipment settings significantly affect quality and delivery times, strict constraint management is essential. The newly introduced optimization system comprehensively incorporates these diverse constraints. By integrating ROHM's accumulated knowledge, know-how, and various data while minimizing discrepancies with on-site operations, the system creates an optimal production plan for the entire front-end process at the Miyazaki plant. It has been in operation since January 2026. The introduction of the system allows for the automatic calculation of optimal processing sequences for lots and equipment at regular intervals, reflecting changes in factory conditions. This has reduced waiting times caused by 'waiting for people or materials,' leading to an increase in the number of wafers produced and a 3% improvement in production efficiency. Moving forward, the companies aim to expand this technology to other processes and sites within the ROHM Group, focusing on enhancing productivity and strengthening the stable supply system in semiconductor manufacturing.