Samsung Gains QS9000 Certification -- Targets Automotive Market
SAN JOSE, Calif.--April 16, 2002--| -- | QS9000 Certification Crucial for Automotive Applications |
| -- | Common Supplier Quality Standard for Chrysler Ford and GM |
| -- | Samsung Expects Rapid Increase in Market Share of Semiconductors Used in Automotive Applications |
| -- | Samsung has Extensive History of ISO Quality Certifications |
Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., the world's leader in advanced semiconductor memory technology, today announced that it has received QS9000 certification for its memory and system LSI (large-scale integration) facilities from the BSI Inspectorate (British Standards Institute). This certification is essential in the automotive industry and is strictly adhered to by the automotive top three: Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.
QS9000 certification is a superset of ISO9001 specifically tailored to the automotive industry, setting the standards for the design, development, production, delivery, installation, maintenance and reliability of products and services. The purpose of Samsung's QS9000 certification is to empower the company to prevent defects, maintain quality and to promote continuous enhancement of its semiconductor components used in automotive applications.
With QS9000 certification, Samsung is now able to meet the growing needs of the automotive industry with quality-guaranteed semiconductor devices. The company expects a rapid sales increase in memory and system LSI devices. This is due to the growing number of networked electronics systems being incorporated into next-generation motor vehicles. Applications range from engine control, anti-lock brakes, instrumentation, through global positioning systems. All these systems contain a host of semiconductors.
The QS9000 certification was awarded to Samsung during a recent ceremony at the corporate marketing office in Seoul, Korea. Samsung Electronics Memory Division President, Hwang Chang-Gyu, received the award on behalf of the company.
"Samsung received outstanding assessment results in all areas," said BSI Korea President, Choen Jung Kee, who then congratulated the company on its long history of achieving international quality management system standards.
Samsung has lead the industry in quality management system standards for the semiconductor industry since 1993 when the company first received ISO9001 certification of its plants in Korea. To date, Samsung continues to satisfy consumer requirements through its broad range of quality management system achievements: ISO9000, TL9000 and QS9000. The company's focus is to provide the industry's most complete portfolio of zero-defect semiconductor components.
According to industry analyst firm, Dataquest, the demand for semiconductors utilized in automotive applications is forecast to grow 10 to 15 percent annually. Samsung plans to continue its leadership role in this market sector by offering an extensive portfolio of DRAM, SRAM and Flash memory components and LCD displays.
Samsung's Quality Certificate Milestones:
-- 1993 Receives ISO9001 for semiconductor plants in Korea
-- 1995 Receives ISO9001 for TFT-LCD plants
-- 1999 Receives ISO 9002 for semiconductor plants in
Austin, Texas; and Suzhou, China
-- 1999 Receives QS9000 for System LSI plant in Korea
-- 2001 Receives TL9000 certification of all semiconductor
and TFT LCD plants in Korea
-- 2002 Receives QS9000 certification for memory business,
assembly and test plants in Korea
About Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.
Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. is a wholly owned US subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, Samsung Electronics is a mainstay of the global electronics industry. It is the world's leader in DRAM memory, SRAM memory, and TFT-LCD display products for industrial, mobile and desktop computing applications. Samsung Electronics is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies overall with a full line of semiconductor products including Flash memory, microprocessor and custom ASIC components. Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. is located in San Jose, California. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.usa.samsungsemi.com