MILPITAS,
Calif. and SINGAPORE - April 2, 2001 - Chartered Semiconductor
Manufacturing (Nasdaq: CHRT and SGX-ST: Chartered),
one of the world's top three silicon foundries, today
announced completion of the first production implementation
of data exchange standards for business-to-business
e-commerce within the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
The pilot project is based on Chartered's eFAB™
initiative, and was conducted in conjunction with the
Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) of Motorola Inc.
(NYSE:MOT).
Chartered and Motorola jointly developed the first prototype
of an electronic extensible markup language (XML) messaging
format in conformance to the subset of the RosettaNet
3D8 open standard for distributing "work in progress"
(WIP) messages between foundries and customers. Chartered
also began similar projects last month with Motorola
to formally validate the RosettaNet 3D8 data format.
RosettaNet is an independent, self-funded, non-profit
consortium dedicated to the development and deployment
of standard electronic business interfaces to align
the processes between supply chain partners on a global
basis.
"Chartered has an aggressive strategy for implementing
practical, standards-based methodologies for electronic
communications with our customers and partners. Customers
need a single point of access for the most up-to-date
and accurate information on their product development
process," said Rob Baxter, senior vice president of
business operations for Chartered and RosettaNet Semiconductor
Manufacturing board member. "The completion of this
eFAB pilot project with Motorola is a major milestone
in the validation process of the data exchange standards
we set out to deliver with eFAB."
"We were happy to contribute and participate in this
effort to drive open standards, and improve supply chain
efficiencies of exchanging data between multiple partners
using different systems," said Hans Wildenberg, corporate
vice president and director of Order Fulfillment Organization
for Motorola SPS, and former chairman of the RosettaNet
electronic component board. "We applaud the Chartered
team's dedication and resourcefulness to accomplishing
our mutual goals in a timely manner."
The eFAB Alliance was formed in September 1999 by Chartered
with Agere Systems (the former Lucent Microelectronics
Group), Agilent and Motorola's SPS to create a model
for electronic commerce within the semiconductor foundry
industry through open standards. The RosettaNet 3D8
and 3D9 standards are based upon the body of work initiated
by the eFAB Alliance to provide customers with a uniform
system for communicating electronically with any foundry.
The data-exchange specifications were donated to RosettaNet
in December 2000.
eFAB Pilot Project
The project goal was to implement an event-driven model
for sending messages and receiving acknowledgements
in a secured fashion between foundries and their customers.
In particular, the proof of concept of the joint Chartered
and Motorola effort tested the capabilities of using
standard XML-formatted messages to electronically communicate
a series of data elements between two independent systems.
The project finished ahead of schedule and achieved
all of its milestones for prototype development, debugging,
user acceptance testing, and final product implementation.
RosettaNet Semiconductor Initiative Moves Forward
RosettaNet is architecting the first open industry standard
for secure electronic communications between foundries
and their customers, suppliers and marketing partners.
Chartered is a founding member of the newly created
RosettaNet Semiconductor Manufacturing Board, which
includes 29 companies representing the complete semiconductor
supply chain. Members include integrated device manufacturers,
fabless semiconductor companies, silicon foundries,
as well as test and assembly service providers.
"RosettaNet is committed to helping the semiconductor
industry reap the benefits of e-commerce, and we congratulate
Chartered and Motorola on their collaborative effort
to complete a successful pilot project based on a subset
of the 3D8 data exchange standard," said Jennifer Hamilton,
chief executive officer at RosettaNet. "Members of Chartered's
eFAB Alliance were among the original founders of RosettaNet's
Semiconductor Manufacturing Board and are making rapid
progress to streamline electronic communications throughout
the supply chain. The completion of the eFAB project
with Motorola proves that standards-based systems can
be quickly prototyped, tested and put into practice
through industry collaboration."
Chartered's Baxter added, "We are pleased that RosettaNet
acted quickly to adopt the 3D8 and 3D9 standards, and
we are confident that they will have extensive applicability
throughout the industry. Chartered is working closely
with RosettaNet to next tackle the critical business
issues of inventory, order management, shipping and
logistics, and materials management."
About Chartered
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the
world's top three silicon foundries. The Company's business
model is distinguished by its strategy to build trusted
long-term relationships, where manufacturing is part
of a larger customer-service focus that includes joint
development and implementation of new process technologies
supporting novel applications within the broad communications
market. Chartered operates five semiconductor fabrication
facilities at its Singapore headquarters, with a substantially
completed sixth fab that is in the process of being
equipped as a 300mm facility.
A Company with both global presence and perspective,
Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market
in the United States (Nasdaq: CHRT) and on the Singapore
Exchange Securities Trading Limited in Singapore (SGX-ST:
CHARTERED). The Company reported 2000 revenues of over
US$1.1 billion. More than 4,300 Chartered employees
are based at 11 locations around the world. Information
about Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing can be found
at www.charteredsemi.com.
Chartered
Safe Harbor Statement under the provisions of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This news release contains forward-looking statements,
as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements, including without limitation,
statements relating to the progress of the eFAB™
pilot project and the anticipated industry-wide applicability
of data exchange standards developed as a result. These
statements reflect our current views and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause
actual results to differ materially from historical
results or those anticipated. Among the factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially are:
the successful implementation of the eFAB pilot project
and changes in electronic communications standards and
methodologies. Although we believe the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are based
upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance
that our expectations will be attained. In addition
to the foregoing factors, a description of certain other
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results
to differ materially can be found in the section captioned
"Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which are based on the current view of management
on future events. We undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
eFAB is a trademark of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing.
All other marks are properties of their respective holders.
