{"id":7493,"date":"2015-12-09T23:27:19","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T04:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/living-moores-law-in-the-semiconductor-industry-the-success-story-of-asml\/"},"modified":"2015-12-10T08:19:16","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T13:19:16","slug":"shaping-moores-law-in-the-semiconductor-industry-the-success-story-of-asml","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/shaping-moores-law-in-the-semiconductor-industry-the-success-story-of-asml\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaping Moore\u2019s Law in the semiconductor industry: the success story of ASML"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1984, the year of ASML\u2019s spin off from Philips, you could fit about 2200 transistors on one square millimeter of a computer processor chip. Today, it\u2019s almost 8.5 million1<\/sup>. ASML produces the machines that made this remarkable development possible.<\/p>\n

From zero to a global market leader in 30 years: the business model of a winner<\/strong><\/p>\n

ASML produces lithography machines, used by chip manufacturers like NXP and Intel for the production of chips that, for instance, store data in your laptop2<\/sup>. The design of the lithography machine determines how small the features on a chip can be, and therefore, how powerful the end-product for the consumer will be. In this sense, ASML, being at the beginning of the semiconductor value chain, sets the boundaries for what is technically possible throughout the chain.<\/p>\n

\"value<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1965, Gordon Moore, one of the Intel cofounders, predicted that the number of transistors on a chip would be doubling every eighteen months. Ever since, the semiconductor industry has lived up to \u2018Moore\u2019s law\u2019 and continuously improved the transistor count on a chip1<\/sup>, significantly contributing to the economy\u2019s productivity growth overall3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\"MooreASML has played a central role in this achievement. Through living by its simple business strategy of producing machines that \u2018allow customers to produce chips with the highest performance and lowest product costs\u2019, it has managed to deliver increasingly sophisticated equipment. Its success in doing so is reflected in its current market share of 80%, achieved at unprecedented speed, in the semiconductor industry4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Executing on innovation <\/b><\/p>\n

Key to ASML\u2019s success is its execution of the business strategy through a three pillar operational strategy: technology leadership, customer and supplier intimacy, entrepreneurial people5<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

First, technological leadership is reflected in ASML\u2019s commitment to high R&D spending. In 2014 R&D spending was EUR 1.1 Billion, or ~19% of its annual sales (compared to an average 3% for automakers4<\/sup>). Given the highly cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, ASML\u2019s constant level of R&D spending stands out, since R&D budgets are regularly cut in economic downturns. ASML, rather than cutting spending on R&D during economic downturns, found other ways to stay nimble. ASML hires roughly 1000 to 1500 temporary workers in economic upturns (compared with ~6500 permanent workers). This allows for flexible adjustment to the business cycle. In addition, the company holds significant excess cash so that in a downturn, there is no need to significantly cut back on R&D expenses6<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\"semicond<\/a><\/p>\n

Second, customer and supplier intimacy is central in ASML\u2019s approach to innovation. ASML believes in \u2018open innovation\u2019, characterized by collaboration with customers, suppliers and academic researchers. Lithography machines are extremely costly to develop \u2013 with average selling price at EUR 70 Million1<\/sup> – making innovation expensive and risky. By collaborating with third parties, ASML can share the risk and success of innovation \u2013 as well as make customer input a central part of the ideation process. In 2012, ASML launched a formal \u2018customer co-investment\u2019 program to help accelerate its development of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) technology. Intel, TSMC and Samsung each agreed to contribute EUR 1.4 billion8<\/sup>. Furthermore, to ensure close ties with academic research, ASML founded the \u2018Advanced Research Centre for Nanolithography\u2019 in Amsterdam7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Finally, ASML stimulates a culture of entrepreneurship in which people are given a lot of ownership and freedom. Teams are close-knit and organized in a multidisciplinary way, and this together with the culture stimulates the exchange of ideas across all layers of the company9<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Operational model as a key driver of the business success<\/strong><\/p>\n

Innovation has been key in the semiconductor industry, and as a market leader ASML has understood this principle very well. Its business strategy is built on continuing innovation and making customers and suppliers a key part of that effort. In my view, their operational strategy has been a driving factor in their business success. Throughout the economic cycle, ASML prioritizes R&D, and has found creative ways to be able to remain committed to this \u2013 and has made their customers an integral part of the effort. Finally, ASML\u2019s innovation edge is supported by a culture of entrepreneurship across each of its multidisciplinary teams.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1: In 1985, the Motorola 68020 had 2.235 transistors per square millimetre of chip. Today, the Intel Xeon Haswell A-5 chip has 8.411.498 transistors per square millimetre. These figures are calculated using data from https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transistor_count<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2: https:\/\/www.asml.com\/asml\/show.do?lang=EN&ctx=51431&dfp_fragment=strategy_1<\/a><\/p>\n

3: US productivity growth 1995-2000: Understanding the contributions of information technology relative to other factors, MGI, October 2001<\/p>\n

4: https:\/\/staticwww.asml.com\/doclib\/investor\/misc\/asml_20140425_ASML_CO_2014-Apr-25.pdf<\/p>\n

5: https:\/\/www.asml.com\/asml\/show.do?lang=EN&ctx=50049&dfp_fragment=technolog<\/a>y_1<\/a><\/p>\n

6: http:\/\/managementscope.nl\/magazine\/artikel\/513-bert-savonije-asml<\/a><\/p>\n

7: https:\/\/www.asml.com\/asml\/show.do?ctx=47672<\/p>\n

8: http:\/\/www.talentbox.nl\/index.php\/network\/cust\/161865bd66091aa8b0bdaf327c8f9b01\/ASML<\/p>\n

Pictures:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.semiwiki.com\/forum\/content\/2952-semiconductor-market-could-grow-15%-2014-a.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.asml.com\/asml\/show.do?lang=EN&ctx=277&rid=51980<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1984, the year of ASML\u2019s spin off from Philips, you could fit about 2200 transistors on one square millimeter of a computer processor chip. Today, it\u2019s almost 8.5 million1. ASML produces the machines that made this remarkable development possible. 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