台灣Flash與Mask ROM產業競爭力之研究

Abstract

台灣Flash與Mask ROM產業的設計與製程皆隨著整個IC產業技術進步而前進。但是由於Flash與Mask ROM之產品規格並非標準化，因此廠商的經營模式與一般DRAM廠或Foundry廠有一定程度的不同。本論文希望了解Flash與Mask ROM產業的發展歷程，分析全球Flash與Mask ROM研發與生產的現況與未來發展方向，進而為台灣Flash與Mask ROM產業的未來發展方向提出建議。 早期快閃記憶體（Flash Memory）主要應用於PC主機板的BIOS，近幾年來隨著行動電話手機（Cellular Phones）、數位相機（Digital Cameras）、PDA及MP3市場的興起，這些領域也成為Flash Memory應用新的主流市場。面對急遽膨脹的市場需求，英特爾（Intel）、超微（AMD）、Sharp、富士通-AMD、三菱電機、東芝等主要廠商均紛紛增產。而國內業者亦在這一波景氣推昇下，大舉競爭低、中階與低、中容量的市場，藉此擴大市場佔有率與經濟規模。 Mask ROM的生產流程較一般IC產品（DRAM、Logic、SRAM…）來得短，生產技術也不像DRAM般複雜，由於國際業者（Sharp、Toshiba…）相繼退出Mask ROM市場，使得持續研發與生產的廠商可以藉由穩定的供需關係使Mask ROM價格不致大起大落，產值成長率也能有持平的表現。 本研究以SWOT分析我國Flash與Mask ROM產業的競爭優劣勢，並以個案探討的方式，對我國Flash產業發展提出建議如下：集中資源發展核心事業、發展設計與製程技術、加強半導體人才的養成、低階產品轉移到大陸生產。而對我國Mask ROM產業發展則提出建議如下：集中資源發展與核心技術相關的新產品、維持優異的生產管理能力、加強半導體人才的養成、低階產品轉移到大陸生產。

The design and fabrication technologies of Flash and Mask ROM progress along with the advancement of IC technologies. Due to the fact that the Flash and Mask ROM are not standard products, therefore, their business models are different from those of DRAM or foundry business. Flash memory used to be the storage for BIOS on PC motherboard. Latest applications areas include cellular phone, digital camera, PDA, and MP3 etc. World leading manufacturers, such as Intel, AMD, Sharp, Toshiba, etc., are expanding their capacity. Taiwan manufacturers are focusing on low-end, low-density Flash market. Mask ROM could be used to store software programs such as games. However, as most software is stored on CD these days, the demand for Mask ROM is not expected to grow much. Therefore, leading manufacturers such as Sharp has withdrawn from this market. This research analyzed the SWOT of Flash and Mask ROM industries of Taiwan, and made recommendations to their future development directions.