Training (Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment)

Training Programs

Hitachi High-Tech America has etch equipment training centers in Dallas, Texas and in Hillsboro, Oregon. These centers utilize dedicated training etch systems and a staff of full-time, industry-experienced, certified instructors. A Hitachi instructor can also provide customized training at your location based on individual customer’s on-site training needs. Our competency-based curriculum is continually updated to meet changing customer and industry advancements and requirements, and is developed utilizing SEMATECH guidelines.

Hitachi High-Tech America offers its customers numerous different training courses, ranging from basic operation and maintenance skills to advanced troubleshooting of our Plasma Etch Systems.

Feel free to contact us with questions or to enroll.

Hitachi Etch Technical Training
3600 NE Huffman Rd.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Email: HTA-SEDTechnicalTraining@hitachi-hightech.com

700 Series Course Description

Introduction to the overall system layout, configuration, basic operation and performance of low level preventive maintenance tasks.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to identify the major assemblies and sub-assemblies of the system, perform low-level preventive maintenance procedures (including wet cleaning of the etch chamber) and program and operate the necessary software programs for running wafers. Also, the student will be able to recognize and explain the system's basic normal operation sequence and indications and perform diagnostics to verify proper operations.
• Prerequisites:
  None
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 3 months in industry, 1 month with the M700 Series Plasma Etcher.

Focus on performing scheduled preventive maintenance to the highest established level and an in-depth exposure to the system diagnostic checks.

• Objective:
  Upon completion the student will be able to perform preventive maintenance using the proper procedures while working on a team. In addition, written and performance-based evaluations will be used to determine comprehension level of the system operation software.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 1 Training
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 6 months in industry, 2 additional months with the M700 Series Plasma Etcher.

This level of training will provide the student with the necessary tools to perform system calibrations and alignments, including RF calibration and wafer transfer alignment. In addition, basic troubleshooting procedures specific to the M700 will be introduced.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to demonstrate, through performance, the proper procedures used to calibrate and align various sub-assemblies of the M700 system. Understanding of the overall operation of the system will be evaluated by a troubleshooting test. Defective components will be introduced into the M700, and the student will be required to identify the symptom, logically locate the problem, and repair or replace the defective component or condition.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 2 Training
• Ideal experience:
  At least 9 months in industry, 2 additional months with the M700 Series Plasma Etcher.

This level of training will provide the student with the necessary tools to perform scheduled preventive maintenance on the robots and wafer-handling systems, and advanced wafer-transfer alignment.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to demonstrate, through performance, the proper procedures used to calibrate and align various sub-assemblies related to wafer handling on the M700 equipment. These include calibration of the load ports, load locks, and the system robotics. Understanding of the overall operation of the system will be assessed by performance-based evaluations.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 3 Training
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 12 months in industry, 3 additional months with the M700 Series Plasma Etcher.
• Locations:
  The M-700XT/M-712XT and M-700E/M-712E classes are offered in our Dallas, Texas training center, while only the M-700E/M-712E classes are currently only offered in Hillsboro, OR.

9000 Series Course Description

These training courses are offered for many types of process chambers that are available for the 9000 series plasma etch platform.

This web-based training curriculum introduces students to the overall system layout, configuration, theory, and basic operation of the 9000 system and the plasma etch process chamber.

• Prerequisites:
  None
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 3 months in industry, 1 month with the 9000 Series Plasma Etcher.

Focus on performing scheduled preventive maintenance to the highest established level and an in-depth exposure to the system diagnostic checks.

• Objective:
  Upon completion the student will be able to perform preventive maintenance using the proper procedures while working on a team. In addition, written and performance-based evaluations will be used to determine comprehension level of the system operation software.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 1 Web-Based Training
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 6 months in industry, 2 additional months with the 9000 Series Plasma Etcher.

This level of training will provide the student with an in-depth understanding of the sub-systems that control the 9000 Series Plasma Etch platform, understanding schematics, and basic troubleshooting procedures specific to the 9000. In addition, provide the necessary tools to perform system calibrations and alignments on the wafer transfer system.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to demonstrate, through performance, the proper procedures used to calibrate and align various sub-assemblies of the 9000 system. Understanding of the overall operation of the system will be evaluated by a troubleshooting test. Defective components will be introduced into the 9000, and the student will be required to identify the symptom, logically locate the problem, and repair or replace the defective component or condition.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 2 9000 Training
• Ideal Experience:
  At least 9 months in industry, 2 additional months with the 9000 Series Plasma Etcher.

We offer multiple courses covering advanced 9000 Series systems. This level of training will provide the student with the necessary tools to perform scheduled and preventive maintenance on the wafer-handling systems, robots and major robot components and load port system alignment and component replacement. In addition, troubleshooting procedures specific to the 9000 systems will be introduced.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to demonstrate, through performance, the proper procedures used to perform preventive maintenance, component replacement , calibrate the various sub-assemblies related to load ports and troubleshoot issues. Understanding of the overall operation of the system will be assessed by performance-based evaluations.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 3 9000 Training
• Ideal experience:
  At least 12 months in industry, 3 additional months with the 9000 Series Plasma Etcher.

• Objectives:
  Upon completion the student will be able to demonstrate, through performance, the proper procedures used to remove and replace the robot systems and sub-assemblies related to wafer handling and calibrate and align various sub-assemblies related to wafer handling on the 9000 equipment. Understanding of the overall operation of the system will be assessed by performance-based evaluations.
• Prerequisites:
  Completion of Level 3 9000 Training
• Ideal experience:
  At least 12 months in industry, 3 additional months with the 9000 Series Plasma Etcher.

Other advanced maintenance courses are available upon request. Feel free to contact us with questions or to enroll.

Training Center Locations

Directions from DFW Airport:

• From DFW Airport, take the North Airport Exit onto Hwy 121 North
• Immediately after exiting the airport take Hwy. 114 East and exit on Freeport Pkwy
• Turn left on Freeport Pkwy. to Royal Ln.
• Turn left on Royal Ln. to E. 14th
• Turn left on E. 14th and follow to N. 28th Ave.
• Turn right on N. 28th Ave. and the Hitachi facility is on the left

Hitachi now has two etch training centers in Hillsboro, OR. The original location in building OR3 opened in 2020 and is expected to remain in operation through the end of 2024, and our new training facility inside Hitachi’s Nanotechnology Innovation Center Portland (NCP) which began teaching classes in July 2023.

OR3 Hillsboro, Oregon location
Directions from PDX Airport:

• From PDX Airport, take NE Airport Way to Freeway I-205 South.
• Take Exit 21B to merge onto I-84 W / US-30 W to I-5 South toward Salem.
• Take the I-405 / US-26 Exit on the left toward Beaverton.
• Take Exit 1D and merge onto US Hwy 26 West.
• Take Exit 62A for NE Cornelius Pass Rd South.
• Turn right on NE Evergreen Pkwy and turn left on NE Century Blvd.
• The Hitachi facility is on the left at 2500 NE Century Blvd., Building E.
• Drive around to the rear of the Hitachi building on the right to Suite 200.

NCP Hillsboro, Oregon location (established in 2023)
Directions from PDX Airport:

• From PDX Airport, take NE Airport Way to Freeway I-205 South.
• Take Exit 21B to merge onto I-84 W / US-30 W to I-5 South toward Salem.
• Take the I-405 / US-26 Exit on the left toward Beaverton.
• Take Exit 1D and merge onto US Hwy 26 West.
• Take Exit 61A for NE Brookwood Pkwy South.
• Turn right on NE Huffman Street.
• The Hitachi facility is on the left at 3600 NE Huffman Drive near the end of the road.