Post Job Free

Resume

Sign in

Manager Service

Location:
San Francisco, CA
Posted:
November 20, 2014

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Krishna Vepa acgson@r.postjobfree.com

408-***-****

SUMMARY PROFILE

Krishna Vepa has 15+ years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, process development, equipment

development, green-field wafer facility build and ramp, and providing product/consulting/services to major

equipment suppliers, semiconductor manufacturers and foundries. He has been recognized for key

contributions for VC/industry funded start-ups, pre-public companies and $10B semi capital equipment company

stalwarts.

• 15+ years’ experience in materials processing, wafer manufacture and fab services including defect

detection/reduction; 24x7 high-volume, high ramp manufacturing; off-shore manufacturing; global capacity

planning; green-field fab planning/capital expenditure/build out and ramp; large team personnel

management; and factory optimization.

o As Manager, Manufacturing Technology for MEMC Electronic Materials –– Krishna was

responsible for manufacturing technology and project management of a 600-person, 24x7

manufacturing facility in Malaysia (25 direct reports plus 100+ indirect reports). He championed

Best Practices to improve yield by 3%, reduce manufacturing costs by 30%, and increased

capacity by 25% with a higher ASP product while maintaining product reliability and customer

satisfaction. Ramped factory at peak to approx. $50M and 300,000 wafer starts/month. Highest

profit contribution center in MEMC history.

o As Engineering and Business Manager for a Key Product Unit of Applied Materials, designed,

built and ramped up a green-field 50,000 wafer starts/month facility in Taiwan. Managed

business strategy for Wafer Service group, including $25M capital expenditure for plant design,

equipment selection, operations, staffing and start-up.

o As Sr Consultant, built paid service business for knowledge offerings from discovery to

generating SOW through solution delivery focus on clean energy. Worked with Applied

Materials solar customers to assess wafering yields, quality, output & productivity to drive down

costs. Developed consulting offerings through benchmarking, on-site assessments and

developed of software tools for resource monitoring/conservation.

• Successful track-record planning and implementing new business endeavors including fund

raising, intellectual property, joint development products, manufacturing facility design, capital

expenditure planning, equipment selection, operations management, staffing hiring/training, start-up,

and high-volume ramp.

2826 Hoya Common, Livermore, CA 94551

o As General Manager – Silicon Business Unit for Strasbaugh – a $75M manufacturer of

CMP tools – selected to lead spin-off and start-up of Wafer Solutions, a developer of

cluster tool sets for low-cost semiconductor manufacturing of 300mm substrates (Intel

was strategic partner and investor). As CTO and Co-Founder, built and managed

strategic alliances with Fortune 500 partners and led negotiations for intellectual property

and joint development projects. Directed product engineering and technology validation

for cluster tool (process, cleaning and in-line metrology) and raised over $6M from

strategic and financial investors. Fast-tracked tool prototype in 4 months

Business failed to get 2nd round financing due to 2000-2002 recession.

Technology spin-off for thin wafer handling in 3D IC applications.

As Sr. Engineering & Business Manager for Applied Materials, effected a turn-

around at contract vendor in Taiwan which had been recruited to supply

reclaimed test wafers for AMAT. Facility was unproductive as a result of

unmotivated employees, management disarray, cost mismanagement, etc.

Revamped staffing and operations, infused new technology and raised yields.

Increased wafer volume 5x (<5K wpm to over 22K wpm). Became supplier of

choice to leading manufacturers in Taiwan. Also in this role at AMAT, was

responsible for new 300mm state-of-the-art, green-field wafer facility in Taiwan.

Applied Materials management was pleased with results at contract

manufacturer, and decided to invest in a second facility. Designed facility layout,

built out new space, evaluated/bought equipment, developed processes,

managed integration, and qualified product with major customers including IBM-

Fishkill, TSMC and UMC. Hired and trained teams; managed 30 professionals

and 200 technicians. Ramped production to 50K wafers/mo (approx. $25M)

• Strong process expertise including Silicon Wafering, Wet Processes, Thin Films/CVD), Process

Automation, Contamination control, Data Analysis, DOE, Statistical Methods & Metrology/Vision

Systems

o Has > 10 patents

• Drives growth through technology and a strong focus on lean manufacturing, cost of

ownership reduction, benchmarking, sustainability, capex planning/execution and manufacturing

execution systems.

• Proven success optimizing asset utilization through best-in-class technology and

streamlining operations. Leverage process/engineering to lower manufacturing costs while

sustaining statistical process control, quality control, ISO certification, total quality management,

product reliability, customer satisfaction, plant uptime, production and safety.

Experience

APPLIED MATERIALS, Santa Clara, CA 2004 – 2013

Founding member of a client focused group evolving from value add service to a full fledged P/L consulting

practice dedicated to solve complex problems & challenged with a mission to expand Applied’s service footprint.

Consulting Practice Manager 2009 to 13

As a client facing practice manager, challenged to gain customer traction as a paid service for engagements from

discovery to generating SOW through solution delivery.

• Expanded consulting footprint by piloting a customized tool software development (multiple systems) for a

leading edge foundry. Extended revenue > $2.5M

20004 09

KPU Sr. Engineering & Business Manager

Applied’s $2B Service division wanted to increase customer penetration by expanding service portfolio.

Recruited to manage offshore vendor to supply test wafer services. Role grew to effect a turn around at contract

vendor.

• Grew service revenue to over $15M revenue in 18 months.

• Volume increase of production was 5X in this period (<5Kwpm to over 22Kwpm)

• Developed service strategy for follow on investments to include a $25M capex spend

• Designed, built & ramped up a green field 50kwpm wafer facility in Taiwan ($25M capex)

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, Livermore, CA 2002 04

Provided advanced wafer manufacturing and inspection solutions for KLA Tencor, Isonics Corporation for SOI

development and process development. Established and qualified vendor for a $1M (GM > 50%) valve refurb

business with leading customer

WAFER SOLUTIONS, INC., Fremont, CA 1999 02

Start up developer of cluster tool sets for low cost semiconductor manufacturing of 300MM substrates. Series B

funded by INTEL, Saint Gobain et. al . Directed product engineering and technology validation, for wafering cluster

tool development. Raised over $6M with strategic and financial investors

• Enabled low capital intensity business model by outsourced supply partnerships

• Fast tracked prototype build with advanced controls in 4 months

Business Manager Silicon Business Unit: 1999

STRASBAUGH, San Luis Obispo, CA

Business and sales development of newly formed business unit focused on ssolution delivery of silicon manufacturing

products CMP and Grinding systems. This situation led to co-founding Wafer Solutions

MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS 1992-99

Held several situations rising from MTS to Sr. Tech Manager managing a $8MM technology budget and several

PhD level direct reports.

Manager, Manufacturing Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1996 98

Managed manufacturing technology, customer support and projects at a 600 person, 24/7 facility. Improved

overall yield by 3% and reduced manufacturing costs by 30%

• Increased capacity by 25% with higher ASP product

•Fast track management & startup of a 25% capacity expansion $4MM project.

MTS, Technology Group St. Peters, MO 1992 95

Education

• D.Sc. Applied Chemistry, University of Texas, Arlington, TX (PhD equivalent)

• BS Chemical Engineering, University of Madras, India



Contact this candidate