Industry News, Trends and Technology, and Standards Updates

Acquisition Provides Potential of Unrivaled Intelligence for Semiconductor, Packaging, and Electronics Manufacturing

PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDFS) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cimetrix Incorporated. The combination of Cimetrix^® connectivity products and platforms with PDF Solutions’ Exensio^® analytics platform powered by machine learning, is intended to enable IC, assembly, and electronics manufacturer customers to extract more intelligence – not just data – from their factory floor, to build more reliable ICs and systems at lower manufacturing costs.

“Cimetrix is excited to join the PDF Solutions team. Our two companies share the vision and commitment to provide a smart manufacturing platform that seamlessly connects high quality data from the factory floor to cloud based analytics platforms,” said Bob Reback, Chairman, President, and CEO at Cimetrix. “We believe this combination will provide tremendous opportunities for Cimetrix customers to benefit from the cloud, AI/ML, and analytics capabilities from PDF Solutions, and PDF customers will benefit from higher quality data originating from the factory floor using Cimetrix’s connectivity products and platforms.”

To read more, please view press release here.

Meet Richard Andrew, CCF Services Software Engineer at Cimetrix. Read on to learn a little bit more about Richard.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I have been working at Cimetrix for just over two years now.

When did you graduate and what degree did you get?

I graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I wanted to work on fun tools and equipment, and get to control robots!

What is your role at Cimetrix currently?

I am a Software Engineer on the CCF (CIMControlFramework) Services Team.

What do you think it means to a client to have a great CCF services team?

Having a great CCF services team means clients can either have Cimetrix do part or all of a project  and trust that it will accomplish what they need and they won’t have to worry about it. We value being able to give our clients peace of mind.

What do you like best about the work you do at Cimetrix?

I like the fulfillment I get when our customers are happy with our software and the work we do on our Services team.

What is something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

I’ve learned how to be a better developer and how to work on various projects to accomplish unique goals. I’ve learned how to talk with clients, understand their needs and train them on how to best utilize our software.

What is one of the hardest challenges you’ve been faced with at Cimetrix and how did you overcome the challenge?

Becoming Microsoft certified required a lot of dedication and effort both in the office and outside.  It was like going to school full time and working full time at the same time.  I overcame it through dedicated studying, spending the time required, and taking lots of practice tests!

What is your favorite vacation spot?

I like to go fishing up in Alaska.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to play softball, play games, and spend times outdoors.

Meet Khoi Ha, CCF Services Software Engineer at Cimetrix. Read on to learn a little bit more about Khoi.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I've been at Cimetrix for almost 10 years now (November 2020)!

When did you graduate and what degree did you get?

I graduated from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal in Montreal Canada in 1990. My degree was in Electrical Engineering.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

One of my previous semiconductor companies which I worked for used the Cimetrix CIM300 product so I knew about Cimetrix before I came here. But I was spotted and hired by a previous Director of Engineering.

What is your role at Cimetrix currently?

I am a Software Engineer in the CCF Services Team. 

What do you think it means to a client to have a great CCF services team?

As an engineer for the Services team, we go through the customer requirements and then we must understand and come up with strategies to tackle them. We break the requirements into work items and implement or resolve them one by one. We go through many scenarios of tests for the implemented features. We then consult back with the customers once the features have been implemented correctly and as intended. We make sure that the customer is satisfied with every implementation, and we make sure to deliver on time. In our spare time, we either enhance our documentation or create product trainings.

What do you like best about the work you do right now?

I enjoy helping our customers to be successful by assisting them in building their systems effeciently and on time. 

During my years at Cimetrix, I have been part of different departments (Services, Engineering and Support).  I was involved with CIMConnect, CIM300 and especially in CCF product development.  This extensive product knowledge has helped me tackle challenges when I'm called on to integrate our software with customers equipment.  

What do you like best about working at Cimetrix?

Cimetrix is like a family company. I always feel that people are here to help each other build great products and offer our clients valuable solutions. Every time I've had a challenge getting something done, I was able to rely on other product experts and engineers to help me with the issue and resolve it in a timely way.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Hawaii or Bora Bora (Well I've never actually been to Bora Bora, but I'm crossing my fingers that one day the company might send me there!)

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am learning to play my guitar, and I always like to play around with my gadgets.

Meet Harry Aldrich, CCF Services Software Engineer at Cimetrix. Read on to learn a little bit more about Harry.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I've been at Cimetrix for just over a year now and I work from Camden, Maine.

When did you graduate and what degree did you get?

I graduated with a BA in Physics from Gordon College in Massachusetts.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I have actually been a happy customer of Cimetrix for close to 15 years, and I enjoyed working with the products and team. I'm excited to now be a part of this company.

What is your role at Cimetrix currently?

I am a Software Engineer on the CCF Services Team.

What do you think it means to a client to have a great CCF services team?

Cimetrix makes great products that are foundational to the successful implementation of equipment for today's factories. Having robust products to rely on is great, and having a company that stands behind those products is even better. 

I have benefited greatly from the experts at Cimetrix in Services and Solutions who have "been there and done that", both from their knowledge of the standards to their expertise in the products that implement them.

What do you like best about the work you do at Cimetrix?

I value the opportunity to work with a number of different customers on a variety of equipment that present new and interesting challenges.

What is something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

I have learned the importance of continuing to learn all the time.

What is one of the hardest challenges you’ve been faced with at Cimetrix and how did you overcome the challenge?

Learning a new platform (CCF) as part of a new team (CCF Services) with new responsibilities are among the challenges I've faced. I think teamwork and coaching have been the most significant things in dealing with these challenges. 

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Tirol, Austria

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am an avid golfer and a big sports fan.

Cimetrix is pleased to announce and welcome Thomas Simon as its Director of Sales of Cimetrix Europe and Managing Director of Cimetrix GmbH. Thomas is based in Munich, Germany and will lead our growth in Europe. Thomas Simon will be responsible for ensuring the success of our growing customer base of leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers and smart manufacturing factories in Europe, providing strategic direction for Cimetrix Europe to have long-term success in the European market, overseeing local sales and account management and leading an expert team of Europe-based software engineers.

Thomas earned a Master of Science in Electronics and Semiconductor Technology and has 29 years of experience in the semiconductor, semiconductor backend, and electronics industries. He started his career as a field service engineer and then field service management working for companies such as Robert Bosch, SPTS (KLA), Centrotherm, UNAXIS (Evatec) and Suss MicroTec. Since 2011, Thomas has worked for Ulvac as Director of Sales and Business Development.

“Cimetrix has been serving European customers in the semiconductor and electronics markets for over 20 years. We have worked hard to gain a reputation for high quality products that are backed by responsive and exceptional technical support. Today, this provides us with a solid foundation of many longtime customers willing to serve as enthusiastic references. We also see strong and growing demand for Industrie 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing solutions. Accordingly, Cimetrix made the strategic decision to hire an experienced professional to lead Cimetrix’s business in Europe. We are very fortunate to have found Thomas Simon, as his vast experience in the semiconductor and electronics industries is a great fit with Cimetrix. We look forward to growing the Cimetrix team in Europe to provide even higher levels of support to our European customers.” 

-Bob Reback, President and CEO

Cimetrix has been building international teams throughout the world to provide our clients with technical experts who work in their local time zones, speak their native languages, and understand their unique cultures. In all of the major regions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, we now have an experienced executive who serves as that region’s Managing Director and is able to help our customers be successful and receive the highest levels of technical support.

To contact Thomas, please click the button below. Welcome Thomas!

Meet Anderson, a member of our Solutions Engineering team. Anderson lives and works in South Korea, and is an integral part of our Korea office. Read on to learn a little bit more about Anderson.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I have worked at Cimetrix for for just under a year.

Where did you go to school and what is your degree?

I attended the Korean University of Technology and Education and recieved a Bachelor of Science while I was there. 

What is your role at Cimetrix?

I am a Cimetrix Solutions Engineer located in South Korea.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I wanted to be able to use my skills to support customers, but also to find ways to work on and improve on products. At Cimetrix, I am able to do both of these things on a regular basis.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

I enjoy working with and supporting the development of new customers by using my experience and skills in software engineering.

What do you think it means to provide great customer support?

I think we have to make sure our customers are satisfied with their experience with Cimetrix. I like to make sure the customers can grow with us and they know we support them.

How do you deal with challenges that come up at work?

I always like to try to work on problems myself, but I like knowing I have many collegues I can ask for help when needed.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying? Why?

I like "There is no spoon" from The Matrix movie. That thinking has changed me!

What are your top 3 favorite movies?

1. The Matrix
2. The Dark Night Rises
3. Source Code

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

Anywhere that has a beach, and I also enjoy camping in my free time

Meet Rich Kingsford, CCF Services project Manager at Cimetrix. Read on to learn a little bit more about Rich.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I've been at Cimetrix for just under a year.

When did you graduate and what degree did you get?

I finished my graduate work and received my MBA in 2012.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I had never worked on hardware integration before – just software integrating with other software.  I wanted to do something new and round out my experience.

What is your role at Cimetrix currently?

I am the Project Manager for the CCF Services team. I oversee and coordinate various projects with a variety of clients, concentrating on things such as scope, timeline, execution, quality, resources, and finance.

What do you think it means to a client to have a great CCF services team?

It's important that our clients know we are executing successful project after successful project. To me, this means we knock out all the scope in the desired timeline while staying within budget, even if the scope changes or other challenges hit us.

What do you like best about the work you do at Cimetrix?

I like seeing the iterative improvements to our analysis, reporting, and tracking systems. Finding and addressing the vulnerabilities in these is so important. I also enjoy learning about machine risks and mechanisms we can build to prevent the risk events or handle them if they occur (contingency planning).

What is something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

In a status meeting recently, a client asked us for a contingency plan for when a wafer might slip out of place on a FOUP. We designed a solution that would identify the risk event, alert the user, and take damage-prevention metrics. This taught me a valuable risk mitigation tactic and helped the customer to gain a really cool preventative control.

What is one of the hardest challenges you’ve been faced with at Cimetrix and how did you overcome the challenge?

One challenge that comes to mind was when a client wanted payment options that were different from our standard practice. We’d never done things in this new way before, so we responded quickly by designing a solution, getting everyone on the same page, and trying it out. It worked ok and we learned a lot.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Favorite is a tough one, but Bear Lake comes to mind – I love the KOA campground over there (especially its Pickleball and Shuffleboard courts).

What do you like to do in your free time?

I really enjoy instructing a few courses at some universities. I teach a software development capstone, an agile management, and a finance class. I also like playing Pickleball, Pool, Basketball, and board games when I can persuade my kids to put the screens down and play with me.

Meet Brent Forsgren, the Director of CCF Services at Cimetrix. Read on to learn a little bit more about Brent.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I have been at Cimetrix for over 15 years!

Where did you go to school and what is your degree?

I graduated from Brigham Young University and my degree is in Computer Science.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I wanted to find a smaller company where I could come in and immediately make an impact. Cimetrix fit that perfectly. 

What is your role at Cimetrix currently?

I am the Director of CCF Services, where my team and I provide solution architecture guidance to our client's success. For our customers, this means they should have complete confidence that we will work hard to ensure they are successful. 

What do you like best about the work you do at Cimetrix? 

I love working with our clients and seeing them have successful outcomes.

What’s something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

I knew nothing about the semiconductor industry before I came to work at Cimetrix. Everything I know about semiconductors and the electronics industry, I learned while working here.

What is one of the hardest challenges you've been faced with at Cimetrix, and how did you overcome the challent?

I had not been with Cimetrix for very long when I was asked to help a client implement a GEM300 solution for their tool. As I mentioned above, I was brand new to the semiconductor industry, and that included the SEMI Standards and the GEM300 standards. I had read through the GEM300 standards, but I had not yet had an opportunity to apply them. Fortunately for me, there were GEM300 experts at Cimetrix. With their guidance and help, I was able to successfully deliver a CIM300 solution to the customer and I helped install and test it in the factory. I appreciate the team environment here at Cimetrix.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

I really like Kauai, Hawaii.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to work in my yard and in my vegetable garden. I also enjoy flying my drones and playing with my two dogs (Boxers).

Meet Samson, a member of our Solutions Engineering team. Samson lives in Taiwan and is an integral part of our Taiwan team. Read on to learn a little bit more about Samson.

How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I have been here about one and a half years

Where did you go to school and what is your degree?

I graduated from Taiwan Tamkang University. My bachelor’s degree is Management Information System (MIS).

What is your role at Cimetrix?

I am an engineer on the Solutions Engineering team, and I am based in Taiwan.

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

When I interviewed, I liked the Cimetrix working culture very much.

What do you think it means to provide great customer support?

Our customers sometimes have some limitations when they are using our software. We need to understand what the current situation is that they face before we give them any suggestions. We not only provide good software to our customers, but we also try to provide the best service.

What’s something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

Working at Cimetrix is very special. You need to keep learning all the time, because there is so much knowledge we have to pick up.

What are your top 3 favorite books?

The Little Prince
Crime and punishment
Turn left and turn right (向左走向右走)

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

I most enjoy going to my grandfather’s house. It is located in a rural area in the south of Taiwan. We have a very big courtyard in the front of house. On summer nights we roast chicken, corn and sweet potatoes.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Stay with family, cycling, cook a cup of tea.

Meet Clare, a member of our Solutions Engineering team. Clare lives in China and is an integral part of our China office. Read on to learn a little bit more about Clare.
How long have you worked at Cimetrix?

I have worked at Cimetrix for 22 months, since May 2018.

Where did you go to school and what is your degree?

I got my Bachelor’s degree at the Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China) and my Master’s degree at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. What is your role at Cimetrix?

I am a Cimetrix Solution Engineer located in China. 

What drew you to Cimetrix originally?

I have known of Cimetrix for many years and have been learning from the Cimetrix website. Cimetrix can be called a mentor for my working in the past few years when it comes to technology standards and expertise. It was great to be able to join Cimetrix and get to know more people as a part of this team.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

Sharing my experience and knowledge with others and learning from different people at the same time is what I enjoy most about the work I do.

What do you think it means to provide great customer support?

I think we provide great customer support by not just replying why or what their solution is, but also telling them how to fix their problems on their own.

What is the biggest accomplishment you’ve had at Cimetrix?

My biggest accomplishment is the localization of Cimetrix articles and coordination for EDA Seminars with SEMI China.

How do you deal with challenges that come up at work?

As challenges come up at work I like to just keep learning and consult with all of the experts on our team. Our team is all around the globe and everyone has a special expertise about something, so we are constantly learning from each other.

What’s something you’ve learned while working at Cimetrix?

The passionate support of Cimetrix! It is not only about solving the current problem, we really care about the customer’s need and want to help them to improve their skills and products.

What do you find to be most challenging about your job?

To support our customers’ need for comprehensive understanding of the equipment, the software and factory automation related knowledge. The limited hands-on experience on equipment control software is a big challenge for me.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying? Why?

天道酬勤 (God rewards the diligent)

What are your top 3 favorite books and/or movies?

A Dream in Red Mansions, Gone With The Wind and The Shawshank Redemption.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

My hometown, Inner Mongolia