"It’s great that we were able to develop the world’s smallest humidity sensor."
David Pustan,
Engineer R&D Packaging

Process Development at Sensirion

A wide range of highly complex processes are required to produce Sensirion's environmental and flow sensors by the millions. Process development is behind the drafting and design of these processes.

Activities

The core task of process development is to bring the latest generation of sensors from the prototype stage in the laboratory into robust, high-volume production.

In close collaboration with the product development, process developers define the requirements of products in terms of processes, and vice versa. The implementation of these processes is coordinated together with various contact partners in the technology groups (software, hardware, automation, etc.) and external suppliers. In addition to the advancement of existing processes, this can also involve entirely new developments. As soon as the machinery is set up, the process developers define the processes, qualify them, train production staff in the operation and maintenance of the machinery, and release the processes to production. As process owners, they routinely monitor and analyze the processes in order to ensure quality, performance and continuous improvement, and thus to lay the foundation for the next generation of innovative products.

The profile of a process engineer encompasses a broad range of activities, from conceptual, analytical, coordinative and communicative to hands-on, and is thus highly varied.

Focus Areas

Cleanroom processes for application, structuring and removal of layers on the wafer; e.g. photolithography, etching, coating
Construction process for components; e.g. bond, wire bond, molding, wafer isolation, lead frames and PCBs
Construction processes for modules; e.g. assembly, ultrasonic welding and potting
Testing and calibration of environmental sensor sizes, and inspection of visual criteria.

At Sensirion, process engineers focus on the development of new processes. This is because Sensirion's products regularly set new standards in the market, and the required processes must first be created. Process development at Sensirion is an important part of the R&D division, and enjoys a close, complementary relationship with product development. The communication and exchange with product development, technology groups, production staff and other functions results in a highly interdisciplinary collaboration.