Crisis in technology: the questionable US ability to manufacture thin-film multichip modules

Abstract

It is argued that even though the technology choices are available, the ability to procure deposited multichip modules (MCM-D) in the US is seriously threatened by the inability to obtain volume orders. The result is the withdrawal of capital at just the time when the capabilities are more and more certain. The future capability in the necessary thin-film multichip module technology may not exist if the companies with capability fold before volume orders are placed. A prescription to stimulate volume production of thin-film MCMs is offered.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>