Integrated device manufacturer

A semiconductor manufacturer is a company that manufactures on semiconductor -based electronic devices, either integrated circuits ( IC) or individual components such as diodes and transistors (Discrete Semiconductors ).

The original, still predominant business model is the integrated device manufacturer (IDM ), the self develops, manufactures and markets semiconductor components. Strongly increasing complexity and investment levels in the production of semiconductor devices lead to particular wins the fabless - foundry model meaning: A fabless design house develops and markets components without exhibiting its own production. As a counterpart, the Foundry concentrated ( also called pure-play foundry ) on production, developed and marketed but no separate components.

Other business models are ASIC vendor ( development / production on behalf of customers ) and IP producers (development of partial solutions to other developers ). In practice, hybrid forms are frequently encountered.