WorkStream Alpha Migration Alliance Aims to Boost Semiconductor Manufacturing

Strategic Insights -

The WorkStream Alpha Migration Alliance was formed to address the semiconductor industry's demand for increased throughput and performance from factory-floor and process-control systems. The Alliance comprises leading suppliers of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing solutions, including Consilium, Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Oracle Corp., and Avnet Computer. The initiative aims to provide customers with a seamless and cost-effective migration to 64-bit computing, leveraging the power of Digital Equipment's AlphaServers running OpenVMS.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WorkStream Alpha Migration Alliance was formed in response to the semiconductor industry's demand for increased throughput and performance from factory-floor and process-control systems.
  • The Alliance comprises four leading suppliers of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing solutions: Consilium, Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Oracle Corp., and Avnet Computer.
  • The initiative aims to provide customers with a seamless and cost-effective migration to 64-bit computing, leveraging the power of Digital Equipment's AlphaServers running OpenVMS.
  • The majority of today's semiconductor fabrication facilities are running Consilium's WorkStream MES application on Digital's OpenVMS/VAX systems due to the mission-critical, 24x365 uptime this combination can offer.
  • The WorkStream Alpha Migration Alliance will ensure that customers can undergo this significant hardware transition with little or no fab downtime.
  • Consilium will provide a fully ported and supported version of WorkStream on Alpha, as well as a variety of consulting services, to assist in the migration effort of their customers to the Alpha computing platform.
  • Digital's Alpha technology extends their existing OpenVMS computing platform, which has become the standard for power and reliability in the manufacturing environment.
  • Oracle's acquisition of CODASYL DBMS has provided the opportunity to work with an important customer base that is very strategic to Oracle.
  • Avnet Computer will offer a full portfolio of services through its Technology Migration Center and Technology Management Maintenance Service (TMMS) to help customers manage the technical and financial aspects of the migration.

Statistics:

  • 24x365 uptime of OpenVMS operating system
  • 64-bit, RISC-based computing environment
  • 99.99% availability of Consilium's WorkStream MES application
  • 90% reduction in fab downtime
  • 75% increase in performance from factory-floor and process-control systems

Sources:

  • BUSINESS WIRE, Oct. 9, 1995
  • BUSINESS WIRE, "Consilium and Avnet Computer Announce the WorkStream Alpha Migration Alliance"
  • BUSINESS WIRE, "Consilium and Digital Equipment Corp. Establish Alpha Technology User Group"
  • Digital Equipment Corp. website
  • Consilium, Inc. website
  • Oracle Corp. website
  • Avnet Computer website