Anyone have a job making Silicon Wafers?

Whacky

Does any one here have a job which involes making Silicon Wafers.
SOI (Silicon On Insulator)

E.g what they are doing in this clip
youtube[dot]com/watch?v=aWVywhzuHnQ


Just wondering what you need to get this kinda job and what is it like to do for a living.

maninthestreet

Probably need a degree level education (at least) in an appropriate discipline.

Andy_L

I suspect that, as the big chip fabrication plants are in the far east/US, that wafer manufacture is done there as well.

Whacky

I ask becuase there is a company near me looking for a production operator to work in the factory and all they ask for is 6 GCSE's.
I'am not 100% sure on what the duties are am guessing nothing too advanced since during the interview they didnt ask anything technical.

sharkie

I applied in my youth for building and testing prototype analogue chips. These chips were to be used in small signal amplification also they had to have little distortion.

An example is an ECG machine that reads a signal form sticky pads. This device would amplify the signal to something more usable to normal electronic circuitry and obviously you do not want a distorted hear beat on the screen.

I was 25 and asked if there was any progression into design. I was told I need a Uni degree (did electronic circuit design in poly) and by the time I got one would be too old.

Lets be honest the design is the most interesting part, testing is cool too, but the rest is mundane is it is all computerised. Just load a machine with disc and the rest is done for you.

BTW the chips were made in Ireland.

cymru09

I've worked in the semiconductor industry. Most of the work is button pushing or checks. Easy money

Which company are you applying to?

Whacky

Well beleive it or not I got the job
"Chips were made in Ireland" the company I applied to is in N.Ireland...



So what course would I need to do to move up in this work place? All I have are GCSE's and A-Level's

Also what hours did you do and the pay?

Any advice for the new guy?

cymru09

Congratulations on getting the job.

Courses would depend on the career you wish to pursue. I was an engineer. Your HR department are the best people to ask to be honest. They may even pay for the courses. The company I worked for paid for my degree. You cant really go wrong with NVQ's. I'd recommend an HNC in electronic engineering if your aiming to become an engineer or technician.

I worked 4 on/4 off, 12 hour shifts. Having 4 days off is great! All companies will be different though.

Ask plenty of questions and show an interest. Good luck with the new job!

Whacky

Yea am working 4 on and 4 off, is there any reason for this?

Have you ever asked them for 4 on / 3 off instead?

So does that mean i am only working roughly 50% of the year?

Beacuse its 4 on / 4 off that means the compnay is running 7 days a week. Would the company also be open 24 hours a day? day and night shifters