The Role of Test in a Highly Outsourced Business Model

The continuous pace of technical innovation in the Semiconductor Industry is driving development and manufacturing infrastructure costs to record levels, companies are responding by adopting new business models. Parts of the manufacturing flow, many of the development tools, and much of the IP are commonly outsourced by virtually all IC suppliers. The impact of this business model on test is of increasing interest/concern because of the exponential growth of device densities, market pressures on cost, and demands to improve quality levels (even as the industry is making major changes in both manufacturing materials and methods). How will the test community adapt?