ACC STARS provides upskilling opportunities for Samsung employees

At Samsung Austin Semiconductor, our success is largely dependent on our capacity to onboard a safe and skilled workforce grounded in high-quality, innovative training. Yet, the industry is working to address a massive talent gap. According to a recent report from the Semiconductor Industry Association, semiconductor companies across the nation have announced more than 44,000 new expected jobs since the introduction of the CHIPS and Science Act. In the same report, SIA projects 80 percent of technical jobs risk “going unfilled.” To help create career pathways for more technicians, Samsung Austin Semiconductor alongside Tokyo Electron, NXP, Applied Materials and Infineon, collaborated with Austin Community College (ACC) to develop the Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start (STARS) Training Program, which started in summer of 2023. STARS is a four-week technical training program designed to upskill existing, high-potential employees identified by their supervisors. The course covers topics that are related to electro-mechanical systems, such as electronics, sensors, pneumatics, vacuum system, gas delivery, statistical process control and more. Our collaboration on the STARS program is part of our 5-star workforce development plan that focuses on building and retaining a skilled workforce. One of the key areas for us is partnering with schools like ACC to provide training programs, apprenticeships and reskilling opportunities. “We are building direct paths for students to train and get the skills needed to meet the growing demands of these high-paying careers in Central Texas’ manufacturing workforce,” Laura Marmolejo, ACC department chair for Advanced Manufacturing, said. The third and most recent ACC STARS cohort had 13 Samsung Austin Semiconductor employees and the program’s fourth cohort will start in mid-April. The February cohort included four Samsung Austin Semiconductor employees. Congratulations to the February STARS graduates:

• Sanjuana Cano, Department: Diffusion
• Bart Cole, Department: Etch
• Cristian Gonzalez, Department: Etch
• Javier Prieto, Department: Metals

From STARS Grads: Always learn. Continuously improve. Sanjuana Cano, an equipment technician in the Diffusions Department, joined Samsung Austin Semiconductor in 2020. Cano participated in STARS because she recognized and welcomed the opportunity to grow. Her immediate outcomes include greater visibility of the larger process, valuable context to better mitigate disruptions during repairs and more confidence in her daily work on complicated equipment. “I believe knowledge always opens more doors in your career,” Cano said of her training. Cano’s colleague, Bart Cole, echoed the same sentiment. “These classes gave me an opportunity to improve my skill sets,” Cole, a technician in Etch Ops, said. Javier Prieto, an equipment technician for the Metals Department, originally joined Samsung Austin Semiconductor as a contractor in November 2022 and was converted to a full-time employee in August 2023. Prieto says the STARS program made him a better technician. “After learning and understanding the topics, we then were able to put it to the test and use the knowledge for troubleshooting purposes,” explained Prieto. “It also helped me understand the semiconductor process more and use that knowledge to help troubleshoot and get the tool up and running faster.” Beyond his individual responsibilities, Prieto knows the training he received from the program will allow him to be a better colleague. “I am grateful for this experience. The STARS program helps me train or assist others so we can all grow as a team,” Prieto said. The program also stoked his career aspirations and he’s now considering going back to school to get a bachelor’s degree. For individuals who want to further their careers, ACC offers a variety of degrees and certifications through its Advanced Manufacturing program.