Insights from more than 25 years in the semiconductor industry: fab design, cleanroom space efficiency, BIM, and facility data management.https://www.semisoft.com/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/good-design-pays-for-itself/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/good-design-pays-for-itself/The potential to achieve high space efficiency is particularly high at the start of the design process. When investments get higher, good Fab design pays very much for itself.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/is-there-a-perfect-fab-design/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/is-there-a-perfect-fab-design/All modern 300mm front-end fabs have similar functional areas, yet almost no two fab buildings share the same dimensions. Modern 3D design is one key to more compact results.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/the-level-of-detail-should-fit-the-task/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/the-level-of-detail-should-fit-the-task/A solid that looks like a pipe but has no references to material and technical data should not be called BIM. At SHK, every 3D component is a real digital twin with embedded data.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/different-values-of-cleanrooms/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/different-values-of-cleanrooms/Not only the cleanroom area matters — the type of cleanroom results in relevant space efficiency differences of up to 70%. A closer look at a dry-etch space example.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/how-big-is-giga/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/how-big-is-giga/Two fab site plots in the same scale: 17 times bigger site, 14 times bigger cleanroom, 1.2 vs. 24 billion US$ investment. The Gigarace in semiconductor manufacturing is in full swing.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/so-called-wafers/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/so-called-wafers/In Europe, the semiconductor industry is still not widely known in all areas needed to build a new fab. Recent projects in Dresden, Villach and Agrate have done a lot for training experts.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/three-topics-one-solution/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/three-topics-one-solution/Gas detection limits, space management issues from large exhaust pipes, and costly make-up air: SHK has developed a patented exhaust unit that solves all three topics at once.https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/450mm-ready/https://www.semisoft.com/knowledge/450mm-ready/Fab buildings are valuable properties with lifespans measured in decades. Even if it still sounds like the future, modern fab buildings should be 450mm ready.