Hui Peng discusses her journey from process engineer to General Manager, the CHIPS and Science Act and the future of GlobalFoundries’s most advanced manufacturing site 

Having dedicated her entire career to the semiconductor industry within GlobalFoundries’ (GF) walls, Hui Peng began her journey at GF’s Singapore site nearly a quarter-century ago, making her a familiar face these days in the hallways and cleanrooms of GF. Her path from process engineer to leading GF’s Fab 8 has spanned the globe, and today, she leads a team of more than 1,200 employees in manufacturing and engineering operations. 

Recently her team in Malta gained significant attention following the announcement that it would receive the first major award proposed by the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. With such an exciting development, we seized the opportunity to catch up with Hui Peng to talk about her role, leadership, and the insights and experiences shaping her vision for Fab 8 and the future of the semiconductor industry. 

Let’s start with the most recent developments. What are you most excited about for Fab 8’s next chapter following this proposed investment? 

The proposed funding will support multiple GF projects, here in Malta and at our site in Burlington, VT. Here, the biggest impact the proposed investment is going to have on Fab 8 specifically is that we will be adding wafer manufacturing capacity to our Malta facility. The first part is the expansion of our capacity within the current four walls of Fab 8. The second phase, which involves the construction of a new state-of-the-art fab on our Malta campus, will come afterwards to support the industry as demand continues to rise. The goal of both phases is adding secure capacity for essential chip manufacturing for automotive and other key markets. 

How will the proposed funding diversify GF’s Malta fab into new technologies and end markets? 

The proposed investment will allow GF to bring different shades of technology to Fab 8. Independent of the funding, our goal as a foundry is always to diversify our technology portfolio to bring the most value to customers. We always say there are three elements needed to help us add capacity – GF investment, government investments, and customer demand. All three come together to help add capacity to bring new technologies to our end market customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, IoT and other vital markets to help them reach their goals. We’re excited that the generous grant from the Department of Commerce will enable us to do this faster. 

Switching gears, could you tell us more about your journey that led you to being the GM of Fab 8? 

I started my journey in the semiconductor industry as a lithography process development engineer in Singapore at Chartered Semiconductor, a site later acquired by GF. After receiving my master’s degree in engineering from Nanyang Technological University and spending a decade in technology development in Singapore, I moved to the United States to lead EUV lithography research, which is the process of using cutting-edge light technology to draw the tiny circuits inside. I returned to manufacturing facilities when Fab 8 was founded. I started by leading a module (Lithography), then became the overall module engineering leader. I’m incredibly honored to have stepped into the role of General Manager of Fab 8 last summer. 

I’d imagine all of your responsibilities keep you quite busy! What does your day to day look like as the leader of Fab 8?  

My day to day is comprised of three primary tasks, which include: 

• Reviewing operations performance to ensure we are operating efficiently from a capacity and cost perspective 
• Strategy initiative reviews, to make sure that Fab 8 is positioned for a bright future 
• Spending time with my team 

My favorite part of the role is spending time with the extended team. Whether it’s one-on-one interactions in the halls of Fab 8 or formal leadership gatherings, meeting with my Fab 8 team gives me energy and inspires me. Switching between these different duties can prove to be challenging at times, but it’s also what makes the job so exciting. 

You are GF’s first female GM. Given this significant accomplishment in a historically male-dominated industry, what developments would you like to see in the semiconductor workforce? 

I became a manager early on in my career. Along the journey, I have been able to motivate and inspire other female talent. In my current role as the GM of Fab 8, I’m in a position where I can make a much bigger impact in fulfilling my aspiration to bring more women into the semiconductor industry. Driving the percentage of women in GF’s’ workforce is a goal we are continuously working towards, and we’ve already seen great progress in growing the percentage of females in new college graduates and our intern cohorts, which were 38% women last year. As I strive to further the professional growth of hundreds of women in the semiconductor workforce through mentorship, guidance and advocacy for female talent within GF, I also hope to see these efforts replicated on a wider scale throughout the industry. 

What do you enjoy most about working with the local Malta community? 

As one of the largest employers in the region, the engagement we have with the local community is very important to us. In fact, we owe the huge strides we are taking in workforce development in part to this community. For example, we partner closely with Hudson Valley Community College on our apprenticeship program to prepare individuals to fill positions in the organization, which has become even more critical due to the shortage of qualified workers. With GF being so well supported by our friends in Malta, we are always looking to give back to this community. From volunteering at the food pantry and animal shelters to sponsoring STEM events with local charitable organizations, I’m always happy to see our teams work together to make Malta a better place. 

What is your advice to semiconductor professionals earlier in their careers, or individuals considering pursuing a career in the industry? 

I always like to tell people that technically this is my first job. For everyone, it’s important to start with the things you love doing. Once you’ve identified your passion, you can continue to grow within a company or industry. It’s an extremely exciting time in the semiconductor industry, and I believe there are even more opportunities for individuals to grow, make an impact and be a role model to others on the same path. One of the biggest personal motivators for me has been the endless possibilities to learn and be part of the solution. In the semiconductor industry, there are so many opportunities to make a difference. There is never a dull moment in the job we are doing, and I’m lucky to be able to work alongside so many talented individuals at GF.  

Are there any trends you’re looking forward to seeing in the industry in the next few years? 

I’m watching two forces closely – one from a technology side, the other from the talent perspective. I’m excited to see artificial intelligence play out in the space. Due to its novelty, it has yet to be fully understood in terms of how it is going to translate to demand and the need for innovation. At GF, we are keeping a close eye on how the rise of AI will impact the technology we are driving, the customers we serve, and the role we play in the semiconductor industry. 

Workforce development will also be a key part of the story. Right now, there’s a lot of attention on how to build talent quickly to support industry growth. In the next few years, I hope to see the industry come together more to address this issue as a whole, and I believe that Fab 8 and GF will play a very active role in developing a sustainable talent pipeline. 

By Candice Callahan
Principal Member of the Technical Staff for Corporate Environmental, Health, and Safety and Sustainability, GlobalFoundries

Even as our second annual Earth Week celebration draws to a close, GlobalFoundries remains laser-focused on identifying and implementing new ways of reducing resource use and finding efficiencies in our day-to-day operations as we manufacture the essential semiconductors the world needs. For us, every day is Earth Day.

In this article, I would like to share how GF is making a difference in the key areas of water use, hazardous waste management and chemical usage.

点击这里 to read my colleague John Compani’s article that covered our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electricity use. Also click here to read about GF’s new long-term goals to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions and 100% carbon-neutral power by 2050.

Water Use

Semiconductor manufacturing requires significant amounts of water, and GF has been making strategic investments that reduce consumption and promote the recycling and reuse of water at our facilities.

These programs are working. In 2023, 39% of GF’s total water use was covered by recycled and reused water. Last year our teams around the world implemented projects that are on track to help us achieve an annual savings of more than 341,000 m³ (90 million gallons) of water – about the water used by more than 800 average U.S. households in one year¹.

At the end of the day, our normalized water use² in 2023 represented a reduction of 19% from 2020. Below are a few examples of our successful projects:

• In Singapore, a wastewater stream from a reverse osmosis system was redirected for reclamation and reuse in the facility cooling tower and main exhaust scrubber system, resulting in savings of 219,000 m³ (58 million gallons) of water per year. 

• In New York, the process to flush and qualify ultrafilters with ultrapure water was modified to collect the resultant wastewater for reuse, resulting in approximately 26,000 m³ (6.8 million gallons) of water savings per year. 

• In Vermont, upgrades and preventative maintenance updates on a group of chemical-mechanical planarization manufacturing tools resulted in 32,000 m^{3 (}8.4 million gallons) of water savings per year. 

Hazardous Waste Management and Chemical Usage

GF has rigorous chemical review and pollution prevention programs across all of our worldwide manufacturing sites. Our goal is to identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate chemical use and waste generation, whether through process innovation, finding new efficiencies, or novel ways of reusing or recycling materials.  

In 2023, across our global sites, GF completed a range of projects resulting in the combined reduction of more than 4,600 metric tons of hazardous waste and chemical use. Together, these projects represent $4.5 million in annual savings for GF.

Examples of these projects include:

• In Singapore, a series of solvent usage reduction efforts by optimizing recipes at our 200mm fabs resulted in a combined annual chemical savings of $74,000 per year.

• In New York, our team completed a project to adjust concentrations of chemicals used in the wet cleans process, which will reduce consumption by 70 tons of hydrogen peroxide and 26 tons of ammonium hydroxide per year, saving the company approximately $138,000 per year in material costs.

• In Vermont, our team developed a new method for reducing and optimizing the use of specific gases used as cleaning agents inside semiconductor manufacturing tools, resulting in a savings of $60,000 year.

Thank you for taking the time to read and learn more about GF’s commitment to improving our resource conservation efforts, sustainable operations, and minimizing our impact on the environment. Click here for additional information.

Candice Callahan is a Principal Member of the Technical Staff with GF’s Corporate EHS & Sustainability Team. She is based in Essex Junction, Vermont, with a focus on GF’s Environmental Performance, Resource Conservation and Sustainability efforts.

¹ Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s estimate that the average U.S. family uses 300 gallons of water per day [link]

² Normalized water use is how we measure efficiency for how much water it takes to manufacture our products.

GF resource conservation projects reduce the company’s environmental impact

By John Compani
Senior Member of the Technical Staff for Corporate Environmental, Health, and Safety and Sustainability, GlobalFoundries

This week GlobalFoundries (GF) is celebrating our second annual Earth Week, in honor of Earth Day and our collective responsibility of being a good steward of our planet and its resources. Our theme for Earth Week is: “ONEGF, One Planet, Protect it Together.”

As Dr. Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GF, said earlier this week when announcing our new goals of achieving net zero emissions and carbon-neutral power by 2050:

“Climate change is a universal concern for every nation, company and person on this planet, and there are no do-overs when it comes to global warming. It is incumbent upon all of us to take meaningful action to fight against this risk.”

GF has a longstanding commitment and proven track record of sustainable operations and minimizing our impact on the environment. Below are examples of GF’s commitment in action, across the key areas of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electricity consumption. Watch for an article later this week on other key resource conservation efforts in the areas of water use, hazardous waste management and chemical usage.

温室气体排放

Earlier this week, GF doubled down on its commitment to sustainability by announcing exciting new goals of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 100% carbon-neutral power by 2050. This work builds upon GF’s Journey to Zero Carbon pledge to reduce our GHG emissions by 25% from 2020 to 2030.

We are on track to meet this 25% reduction goal by 2030, thanks to strong leadership and our innovative global team applying a variety of approaches and investments tailored to GF’s unique global manufacturing footprint. Our efforts are paying off, with GF emitting 27% less GHG per wafer¹ in 2023 than it did in 2020. The combined reoccurring annual benefits of projects completed in 2023 alone resulted in approximately 125,000 MTCO2e of GHG reductions, that’s roughly equivalent to the emissions from driving a car around the earth 1,500 times²!

Below are a few examples of the many exciting projects GF’s team completed in 2023 to help reduce our GHG emissions:

• In Vermont, the installation of point-of-use abatement devices on specific tools resulted in annual GHG emission reductions of 2,800 MTCO2e, and the qualification and use of alternative heat transfer fluids in some etch tools will reduce annual GHG emissions by 6,600 MTCO2e and provide approximately $60,000 per year in material savings.

• In New York, the qualification and use of alternative heat transfer fluids in a group of chemical vapor deposition equipment will result in approximately $185,000 in material savings and the elimination of 35,000 MTCO2e in greenhouse gas emissions per year.

• In Singapore, a multi-year project continued to upgrade specific tools with a more efficient chamber-cleaning process resulting in a GHG emission reduction of 78,000 MTCO2e per year.

Additionally, earlier this year GF and Keppel announced a multi-year power purchase agreement to provide electricity at GF’s Singapore site. By using power from Keppel’s new advanced power plant scheduled for completion in 2026, it is expected that GF will be able to reduce emissions from its Singapore site by more than 10% – or up to 70,000 tons of CO2 emissions – per year. Click here to read more.

Electricity Use

Semiconductor manufacturing is an energy-intensive process. Not only do electricity conservation projects save money, but they can also reduce the GHG emissions generated as a byproduct of producing that electricity.

In 2023, GF’s sustainability and efficiency efforts produced an annual savings of more than 23.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity – enough to power approximately 2,200 U.S. households for a year³. This resulted in significant savings in operational costs as well as a reduction in indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchased electricity.

With the completion of power-saving projects in 2023, GF on average used 19% less electricity to produce a wafer¹ than it did in 2020. Examples of these projects include:

• In Dresden, Germany, two additional heat exchangers were put into operation to support process chilled water systems, resulting in a savings of approximately 170,000 kWh per year and nearly 2,400,000 kWh per year in LED lighting upgrades were made to the facility.

• In Singapore, strategically removed heat tracing on a group of etch tools resulting in energy savings of 733,000 kWh per year.

• In New York, nearly 800,000 kWh in LED lighting upgrades were completed in the cleanroom, and new improvements to temperature controls for areas of the subfab and cleanroom resulted in over 554,000 kWh per year of electricity savings.

Also, earlier this year, GF supply partner Air Liquide announced an investment of over 50 million euros to build a new plant in Singapore and revamp its existing facilities in Malta, New York, to supply high purity nitrogen to GF. These Air Liquide projects are expected to enable GF to benefit from higher energy efficiencies. Read more about it here.

John Compani is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff with GF’s Corporate EHS & Sustainability Team. He is based in Malta, New York, with focus on GF’s Environmental Performance, Resource Conservation and Sustainability efforts.

¹ “per wafer” is an approximation; the technical measurement is “per production output” which takes into consideration the size of semiconductor wafers (200mm or 300mm) and complexity of the product (number of mask layers) when calculating GHG emissions or electricity use per wafer.

² GHG Protocol Average gasoline car emission factor 2 kg CO2e/vehicle-km [link]

³ Using the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s estimate that the average U.S. household consumes about 10,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. [link]

Payne’s perspective on showcasing beauty, complexity and the future in semiconductor manufacturing 

In late 2022 GlobalFoundries (GF) invited Chris Payne, an acclaimed photographer with a specialization in architectural and industrial photography, to our Malta, New York, facility for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of semiconductor manufacturing. Over the course of six days, he captured dozens of images, showcasing the intricate processes of GF’s cleanroom, sub-fab and other key areas. Several of these striking images are featured in Payne’s recent book, ‘Made in America’ and are now proudly displayed in the ‘Semiconductors Unveiled’ gallery at our headquarters. We recently caught up with Chris to ask him about his creative journey at GF and how his photography bridges art with the cutting-edge world of semiconductor technology. 

Q: Thanks so much for connecting, Chris. Your latest book ‘Made in America’ includes a section on semiconductor manufacturing. What inspired this focus? 

A: In my book I wanted to tell a comprehensive story about manufacturing, drawing a narrative arc from older, more traditional processes to newer, more technologically advanced ones, like the making of semiconductor chips. Being able to photograph GlobalFoundries was like having the final chapter written and made it easier to assemble the rest of the book. 

Q: How did your perception of the company evolve throughout your photographic journey? 

A: Walking into the giant cleanroom for the first time was overwhelming and I realized that I would need help from GF to plan and make the pictures. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner; the shoots felt like a creative collaboration where we all shared a common goal. This level of cooperation and generosity is rare in an age when tech companies are wary of opening their doors to photographers. 

Q: Before visiting GF, what were your main objectives or hopes for the photography project? How did these goals shape your approach? 

A: My main objective was to make a series of compelling pictures that strike a balance between beauty and information, that pull back the curtain on the chipmaking process while also being aesthetically pleasing. I tried to avoid the generic views we’ve seen before of cleanrooms with workers in white bunny suits. For my pictures I knew I needed to dig deeper, so we spent many hours exploring the fab to come up with new and interesting ideas. 

Q: Can you describe the process and any unexpected hurdles you encountered photographing in GF’s semiconductor fab? 

A: As a photographer, I’m accustomed to an immersive, hands-on approach, but this wasn’t possible at GF since I was suited from head to toe in protective gear. Every piece of my equipment had to be wiped down before entering the fab, and we had to budget extra time to get around such a vast and labyrinthine site. That said, I enjoyed the luxury of widespread access and had all the help I needed from the GF team, so things couldn’t have gone smoother. 

Q: Was there anything about GF or semiconductor manufacturing that surprised or intrigued you during your visit? 

A: What I found most intriguing was the contrast in scale between the miniscule size of the chips and the immense size of the factory. I can’t think of another product or process where this relationship is so disproportionate. I’ve seen cleanrooms before, but I had no idea how much infrastructure is required to make it all work. 

Q: Of all the images you captured at GF, which one do you find the most aesthetically striking, and which is your personal favorite?  

A: If I had to choose one picture, it would be the view looking up at the FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pods) running along the AMHS (Automated Material Handling System). I remember when I first saw the FOUPs zipping overhead I felt as if I had walked into the future. For this picture we were able to choreograph the FOUPs by slowing them down and rerouting them to create a bustling intersection. 

Another personal favorite is the image of [GF senior engineer] Lydia inspecting the wafer sorter. Here I was able to place my camera inside the sorter and have Lydia peer inside to create a dramatic, intimate scene. Even though the fab is mostly automated, humans must keep a watchful eye to ensure that everything runs smoothly.  

Q: Semiconductor manufacturing is rarely seen as a subject of fine art. How did you approach revealing the beauty in this technical and industrial process? 

A: It’s impossible to photograph semiconductor chips being made, since the process is inaccessible and hidden from view, but I knew there had to be a way to convey its complexity. I recall my disappointment when we toured the sub fab because it seemed generic, like any other mechanical space. Then I looked up and saw a maze of pipes and tubes feeding the cleanroom, revealing the fab as one giant interconnected machine. It was the perfect balance of order and chaos, yet still ambiguous enough to inspire imagination and awe, and shows that beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places.   

Q: How do you think your work, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, influences public perception or understanding of this industry? 

A: I’d like to think that I’m doing important work, documenting one of the most essential technologies of our time. If my pictures make people pause to appreciate what it takes to sustain our modern, digital way of life, then that’s a bonus. But even if no one notices or cares, I’m still grateful for having seen this incredible place, and look forward to future collaborations with GlobalFoundries! 

GF earns top score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-24 Corporate Equality Index 

By Emma Cheer  
Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at GlobalFoundries 

GlobalFoundries (GF) is proud to announce we have earned a top score in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This is a big deal – it’s the leading survey and report measuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employee (LGBTQ+) workplace equality, and our score reflects GF’s dedication to an inclusive culture where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels valued and respected. 

GF received a perfect score of 100 for the CEI. Much more than just an accolade for GF, this score represents our deep-rooted belief that a diverse and inclusive workforce improves business outcomes by fostering innovation, improving employee engagement and retention, attracting talent, and increasing productivity. 

GF celebrated this news at many of its U.S. locations. 

“Working for a company that shares my core values was a key differentiator when I chose to join GF,” said Jean Trewhella, GF’s director of post fab engineering and executive sponsor of the company’s Pride@GF employee resource group. “Gaining the HRC CEI 100 score is a visible and bold indicator that GF continues to grow along these core values of diversity, equity and inclusion, making GF a great place to work for employees and the obvious choice for new hires!” 

The 2023-2024 CEI included 1,384 participating organizations advocating for specific gender identity non-discrimination protections. Covering 21 million employees worldwide, these protections are crucial and we are honored to be part of this progressive change. 

In the words of RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, HRC’s senior director of workplace equality: “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.” 

Click here to learn more about diversity and inclusion at GF and click here for more information on the HRC CEI 2023-2024. 

About Pride@GF 

Pride@GF is a GF employee resource group that is dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, empowering employees to bring their full selves to work, and informing and guiding GF to create a culture of inclusion.