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Reverse Costing and Technology Analysis

Needing a specific system or component torn down?

In addition to the teardowns they perform through our Automotive, Consumer and Telecom Teardown Track offerings, our Yole SystemPlus’ experts are able to undertake custom analyses tailored to your specific needs, including electronic systems and semiconductor components reverse costing.

We also offer costing methods training, workshops and custom software.

Curious to see how it all works? We’ll take it all apart for you.

I - ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS REVERSE COSTING: ESTIMATING THE FULL PRODUCTION COST

Reverse costing of electronic boards and systems consists of costing all the components of a system – including its assembly – in order to estimate its production cost. This first step enables us to calculate an objective selling price by taking into consideration the quantities to be produced and the manufacturer’s own data.

HOW WE DO IT

System Disassembly

A study begins by disassembling a system in order to identify and compile all its constituent elements.

Physical Analysis

The technology can be further identified based on such variables as customer needs, cross-sections, and material analyses (EDX) on PCB, display, lens module.

Elements Pricing

Once the bill of materials is established, each element is priced using the component database – or other models, if components, such as displays or plastic and metal parts, are specific to a system. This analysis provides us with the system’s cost of materials.

Assembly Flow Modelling

The added value cost is calculated by modeling the system’s specific assembly flow. If the system includes ASICs, the reverse costing method for integrated circuits is applied to price them.

Cost simulation

Our cost simulation tools are then used to model the manufacturing process, step-by-step.

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Dismantling views

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Bill of Materials and price evaluation

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Assembly process description

WHAT WE DELIVER

Reverse costing custom analyses provides:

  • A complete teardown of the system: images of the dismantling and identification of all the components
  • Bill of materials, price evaluation
  • Assembly process description
  • Manufacturing cost breakdown according to cost by board, component category, material and assembly
  • Expected selling price

 

Preliminary elements: Our analyses are performed on the basis of a physical sample of the studied components. An NDA can be signed prior to starting the project.

A few examples of the electronic systems we can analyze: Automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs), consumer systems (phones, tablets, wearables…)

II - SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT REVERSE COSTING

The experts at Yole SystemPlus can also support you with your specific, on-demand reverse costing needs. Custom reverse costing studies are designed to identify the main parameters of manufacturing processes in order to calculate an objective manufacturing cost and selling price.

Analyses are based on a physical examination of the components, a study of the market and the supply chain, and an evaluation of the manufacturing steps. In this way we highlight process characteristics and calculate a manufacturing cost with details regarding substrate, labor, fab, equipment and the yield losses cost.

Requested elements: All our analyses are based on a physical sample of the studied components. We can also help you to source the actual device.

HOW WE DO IT

Component identification and economic analysis

We gather the main market and economic data and use it to understand the supply chain and the manufacturer’s position.

Technology analysis

The analysis of component technology provides the technical data essential to perform a cost analysis. Our studies can contain – but are not limited to – package opening, X-ray, cross section, delayering, floorplan analysis, optical images, SEM images, and EDX for material identification.

Step-by-step manufacturing process flow description

Our engineers identify the precise manufacturing process flow and its parameters through a thorough physical analysis.

Cost Simulation

Our cost simulation tools are then used to model the manufacturing process and calculate final cost.

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SOME OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY WE COVER:

  • IC: Microcontrollers, ASICs, SoC, MPU, GPU, Drivers
  • MEMS: Pressure sensors, Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Inkjet heads, Microphones, IMU, fingerprints, BioMEMS
  • Power: MOSFET, IGBT, HEMTs, Si, SiC and GaN devices, discretes, modules
  • Imaging: Camera modules, CIS, Imagers
  • Radio Frequency: Modules, SAW & BAW Filters, Radar, Antenna, PA
  • Optoelectronics & Photonics: LED, LCD, photovoltaic, transceivers, SSL, VCSEL
  • Memory: NAND, DRAM, Emerging
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OUR TAKE ON TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS:

We have developed specific technology analysis methods, leading to an ever-deeper understanding of technology.

Here are just a few examples:

  • Structural analysis of a package: identification of materials and key measurements, cross section, SEM images, 3D x-ray/CT scan
  • Die level analysis: manufacturing process identification, critical dimensions measurement, memory block size and capacity, delayering, floorplan analysis, SEM, TEM
  • Material analysis: EDX, STEM, SIMS
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CONSULTING SUPPORT FOR YOUR STRATEGIC PROJECTS

We can help you achieve a wider view with strategic projects that provide a complete understanding of the supply chain and the impact of device design, manufacturing, and volumes on the final cost.

Here are just a few examples:

  • R&D support: analysis of the cost of prototypes, and identification of the most cost-effective manufacturing strategy
  • Pricing: analysis of the cost of production – to help pricing negotiation
  • Acquisition and outsourcing: identification of cost-effective processes – to drive the best development strategy
  • Marketing: benchmarking of the competition, with analysis of cost and price positioning

Ready to dig into the fundamentals of semiconductor devices? Let’s discuss how we can help you develop and launch your project.

III - COSTING METHODS – TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS

Understand the cost structure of semiconductor components and electronic systems

By now you understand that we can provide you with exhaustive, top notch data sets. But what if we told you that we can also help you understand the very fundamentals of semiconductor component and electronic system cost structures?

At Yole SystemPlus, we develop on-demand training and workshops based on our extensive knowledge and internal methodology. We keep abreast of all the latest technologies and production processes in the world of electronics, so we can explain their impact on manufacturing costs – and, ultimately, selling price.

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TRAINING IN COSTING METHODS

Buyers, costing engineers, designers, product managers, marketing managers…

One thing these people all have in common (besides a solid technical background) is a need – or perhaps a desire – to truly understand the fundamentals of cost structure. They are also the very people we’ve designed these training programs and workshops for!

With a progressive approach towards electronic product complexity, you will learn how to identify and handle cost-sensitive parameters and make more efficient strategic decisions.

These training programs are a perfect introduction to costing methods. Our experts will share their techniques and knowledge, helping you:

  • Identify and understand the cost drivers,
  • Estimate an average selling price and prepare a business plan for a new product,
  • Increase your negotiation leverage,
  • Improve your knowledge of the processes and compare different technological options.
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FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE IN EACH COSTING METHOD TRAINING PROGRAM

Each of our custom training programs is made up of a theoretical part, which explores:

  • The current state of technological developments and updates,
  • The production environment and its costs,
  • Methods of modelling costs and yields,
  • Ways to calculate the objective selling price based on production cost.

To put this knowledge into practice, we will then have you participate in the costing of actual examples.

Training is provided in English or French, on-demand at your site or at Yole SystemPlus’ headquarters in Nantes, France.

IV - COSTING SOFTWARE

SPECIFIC CUSTOM COSTING TOOLS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS

Our services and analyses are all built on the foundation of costing tools developed in-house right here at Yole SystemPlus.

That means our dedicated team of IT specialists is at the ready to create custom software tailored to your needs.

And here are a few of those potential needs:

  • Evaluating market shares
  • Benchmarking buying and production costs
  • Sharing data within your organization or business unit

If you recognize these, we can help you refine the use cases, and define the project scope. We can then develop and implement a software tool that can help you perform.

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Here are some examples of projects we can accompany you on

– Specific market research, associated with semiconductor component costing tools
– Specific technology needs
– Customizing workflow and software user-interface for internal consistency
– Connecting with your existing system to provide you with enhanced data flow

OUR STANDARD COSTING TOOLS

1. PROCESS-BASED COSTING TOOLS, FOR NON-STANDARDIZED MANUFACTURING

Specific processes, described using equipment and consumables libraries.

Due to their non-standard manufacturing processes, many semiconductor components can be difficult to estimate. We have the capacity to develop flexible tools for evaluating the cost of any semiconductor process. Storing steps and process flows in libraries allows software to dramatically reduce the duration of the cost evaluation.

But why do you need one?

  • To optimize your manufacturing cost
  • To evaluate economic feasibility
  • To create a business plan
  • To simulate your equipment’s operating cost
  • To challenge your own production choices and processes
  • To shift your fab and processes
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2. PARAMETRIC COSTING TOOLS, FOR STANDARDIZED MANUFACTURING

Costs are calculated from a set of parameters, a solution best suited to standardized technologies.

Parametric tools are easy to use. After all, they’re based on pre-existing costing models made by our dedicated team of costing experts. They make it possible to simulate up-to-date standard components and technology nodes.

Here are some of the things you’ll be able to do:

  • Enter predefined parameters (size, components typologies) thanks to wizard-based forms
  • Obtain complete breakdown charts and values
  • Obtain automatic costing of semiconductor components
  • Consult regular models and cost database updates

WHAT WE DELIVER

Multiple process flows

Any semiconductor process flow can be simulated with hierarchical descriptions for multiple dies or processes, across an unlimited number of process steps or process flows.

Multiple conditions and supply chain

You can set up the tool with your own conditions, including location, clean room class, process type and subcontracting operation parameters.

Results are in a fully open format

Modify or export final results, build reports with any Excel workbook.

Safely workgroup-compliant

Secure multiple access, data sharing and data integrity.

And support and updates are always available

A project?

Contact us

Yole SystemPlus Custom Studies Team

Julie Coulon

Global Sales Coordinator - Custom Projects