SYMPHONY SYSTEMS LANDS HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR PLUS SOFTWARE ORDER FROM MAJOR SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
CAMPBELL, Calif., July 6, 2000 -- Symphony Systems, an information technology start-up company with proven technology that dramatically improves capital equipment productivity, today announced that it has received a half-million-dollar plus order from a major semiconductor equipment manufacturer. Marking the company's successful penetration of the semiconductor market, the order validates Symphony's network-based tool connectivity infrastructure and suite of software services, and positions it as a leading contender in the race to seamlessly automate the semiconductor supply chain.
Symphony's speedy transition from start-up company to full-scale operation coincides with semiconductor manufacturers' demand for a solution to the frustrating and expensive dilemma of improving overall equipment efficiency (OEE). The stakes are high in this new industry space. With volume manufacturing product yields surging beyond the 90 percent mark, but OEE hovering at approximately 50 percent across the industry, the demand for productivity solutions to tackle this imbalance and tap into the profit potential is high. Chipmakers are under pressure to increase productivity as they respond to rapidly changing markets. Consequently, they are demanding that equipment manufacturers take increasing responsibility for making the equipment productive. Both are looking to the Internet, and other information technology based solutions as the obvious vehicle to improve equipment uptime and productivity, and to reduce costs.
Symphony's innovative solution to this dilemma, now validated by the major order, combines the powerful technology of its open-architecture software platform with a host of "best-of-breed" applications from world-leading software suppliers to create a seamless "Equipment Online" community. With unparalleled, highly secure, real-time access to each tool on a fab line, such options as remote service, preventive maintenance, online diagnostics, virtual equipment demonstration labs, and equipment utilization tracking, are now a reality.
"We're extremely pleased to receive this valuable order from a leading player in the semiconductor equipment arena," said Symphony's chief executive officer, Dr. Keith Bennett. "It's a vote of confidence in our company and our technology. While we've already delivered product to a number of customers, this major order officially propels us beyond start-up mode and into full operation. We've assembled partnerships with world-leading companies such as Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., and Aspen Technologies, and we've received significant funding commitments. Now we're ready to aggressively pursue the opportunity we foresee for our technology in the semiconductor manufacturing space."
Noting that the order comes after a thorough period of onsite customer testing and evaluation, Symphony's vice president of sales and marketing, John Field, praised the company for championing the global drive to provide next-generation manufacturing efficiency solutions to the industry. "Our customer has taken a bold step toward tackling the OEE dilemma head on. They know their products already provide superior process technology. Now they're testing uncharted territory to tap into the efficiency potential of their equipment. Partnering with Symphony gives them the enabling technology to make the products even more valuable to the end user."
About Symphony Systems
Founded in 1997, Symphony's network-based tool connectivity infrastructure and suite of software services to seamlessly connects people, equipment and information within an entire supply chain, creating a web-based community of equipment, equipment users, equipment suppliers, parts and consumables suppliers and application software providers, in real time. The result is a dynamic, highly secure resource management environment that optimizes the productivity of mission-critical capital equipment.
