Douglas Khor
Penang
Summary
Wafer fab engineering specialist with over 20 years of experience leading teams in four global fabs. Successfully contributed to the start-up and ramp-up of two greenfield fabs. Expertise in fab operations, processes, equipment, and metrology, with a strong background in process engineering and manufacturing management. Recognized for problem-solving skills and fostering a positive team environment.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Director
Silterra Malaysia
06.2025 - Current
- Lead a total headcount of approximately 80 engineering teams responsible for process and equipment engineering in dry-etch department.
- Cultivate high performance mindset that strive for operation efficiency and lean manufacturing. Build a culture of solid ownership that drive cost, quality and speed.
- Identify and grow leaders and young talents to achieve strong organization agility.
- Cultivate and demand root-cause finding and understanding in technical problem solving through systemic methodology.
- Drive capacity ramp for Silicon Photonic products aggressively.
- Interact with customers during customer audit, technical collobration and quality-related topics.
- Drive quality initiatives in equipment control, process control and best practices.
Module Manager
Globalfoundries
Penang
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Provide process engineering line-sustaining support to global fab operation.
- Lead a module team of over 50 head-counts with 3 section managers managing Litho, Etch, CVD & PVD process sections.
- Set goals and drive hub operation KPI with zero defect quality mindset.
- Collaborate with fab counterparts in task transfer approach and trainings.
- Lead IATF16949 certification for local-site operation through close collaboration with fab quality counterpart.
- Coach the team both in leadership and technical know-how.
Trainer
Freelance
Penang, Malaysia
02.2023 - 12.2023
- Problem Solving trainer for semiconductor manufacturing clients.
- Training topics focus on functional competencies such as 8D, 5 Whys, Root-Cause Analysis, FMEA, SPC, 7 QC tools, Equipment Performance Index.
- Practitioner NLP trainer delivering soft skills in leadership, personal mastery, communication.
Senior Engineering Manager
ams Osram
Kulim Kedah, Malaysia
02.2016 - 01.2023
- Start-up qualification and ramp-up of thin-film deposition department.
- Experienced in metal film deposition, optical Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) & Distributed Bragg Reflector film (TIO/SiO).
- Support and align with company and management strategic direction and serve as an interface to working level.
- Resolved production issues systemically to avoid re-occurrence or install robust detection using 8D methodology.
- Look ahead for high-potential, value-added projects in yield, cost, and speed.
- Worked with IE and Production colleagues in eliminating critical bottleneck tool-set (BAK metal evaporation) prior to a steep loading ramp.
- Initiated risk mitigation projects: second source qualification, single tool mitigation, enhanced process control, and bottleneck elimination.
- Led cross-functional team in single-tool operation project improving 3% in production cycle-time.
- Eliminated cluster-tool (Clusterline metal) bottleneck issue to meet ramp-plan without additional Capex investment.
- Qualified low-utilised tool type (MTFC Metal) to supplement capacity constraints in BAK tools.
- Grow and mentor toward high performance achiever.
- Task-force member for crisis management of the site.
- Site representative for global equipment roadmap for metal department. Drive site need and priority.
- 5 years as internal trainer of technical and soft skill training for resource development.
Process Manager
Infineon Technology
Kulim Kedah, Malaysia
07.2011 - 01.2016
- Managed three process workcenters consisting of CVD Silicon Epitaxy, thin wafer processes, and sort-thin wafer processes (Carrier technology).
- Managed two key Epitaxy deposition processes (RP DCS) and (AP TCS) with a total of 66 main chambers.
- Resolved Epitaxy process and product challenges. Contamination, Crystal defects, doping diffusion, pattern distortion, process stability etc.
- Resolved HCl gas contamination issue from supplier tube trailer and scrapped over 2000 wafers over 4 months period.
- Drove process control for fast feedback toward process or equipment deviation.
- Managed yield/scrap/deviation KPI performance on monthly review basis and generate action items for improvement.
- Developed engineers capability and knowledge for sustainability of technical know-how.
- Collaborated and transferred knowledge from Europe mother fabs on monthly telecon and yearly meeting for Knowledge-Exchange Conference & Best-Practice Sharing.
Operation Manager
Infineon Technologies
Kulim Kedah, Malaysia
05.2010 - 06.2011
- Managed production team for thin-film module with 120 head-counts over 4-shifts.
- Delivered results in stretched production ramps for one complete year in 2010.
- Sustaining daily output of over 12,000 wafer-move with right production plan.
- Managed bottleneck situation during production steep-ramp over 9 months period through micro-management and process block management.
- Established and maintained clear production procedures, job roles and quality assurance guidelines.
- Enforced culture of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement while providing operational leadership.
- Result-driven, take challenges as learning opportunity, continuous improvement mindset.
Staff Engineer (Process)
Infineon Technologies
Kulim Kedah, Malaysia
05.2005 - 04.2010
- Learnt Epitaxy process within 9 months from zero knowledge to enable successful process qualification during fab start-up.
- First batch of promotion in first year of start-up. Senior to Staff Engineer
- Led engineer of 3 team members & 4 technicians for Epitaxy process.
- Identified productivity improvement and cost saving opportunities from Epitaxy process and equipments. Process flexibility, process WPH improvement, direct material consumption.
- Developed inline process control on product wafers that save test wafer cost and promise fast-feedback process quality control.
- Designed lean operating SOP to ensure efficient operation. Process conversion, Out-of-control plan, periodic equipment qual, PM recovery process procedure.
- Trained and guided junior engineers in jobs and projects.
- Result-driven, take challenges as learning opportunity, continuous improvement mindset.
Senior Engineer (Process)
TECH Semiconductor (Currently Micron)
Singapore, Singapore
08.2000 - 04.2005
- Process engineer of PVD Metal deposition & RTP thermal annealing.
- Experienced in metal film like Al, Ti, TiN, and surface pre-clean.
- Led task-forces in defect improvement in metal process block. 2% yield gain. 2 times line-stop during the excursion. Project was presented in annual site technical forum.
- Promoted to Senior Engineer in 2004.
- Metal process block defect champion driving defect performance.
- Vast knowledge in engineering topics up to 0.13um devices ranging from defectivity, parametric, yield, and equipment issues.
- Process optimization experiences to improve metal line resistance, impurities and grain size characterization.
- Positive mindset, take challenges as learning opportunities.
Engineer
APV Pte Ltd
Singapore, Singapore
07.1997 - 07.2000
- Technical design engineer for plate heat exchanger.
- Prepared product design and quotation that is competitive.
- Pre-sale support local and abroad sale team on technical enquiry from customers.
- Tracked orders from supply chain to delivery to ensure on-time shipment or trigger early escalation.
- Coordinated and support sale team on customer visits.
Education
Master of Business Administration -
University of Southern Queensland
Singapore2003
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
The University of Oklahoma
The United States1997
Accomplishments
Leadership
- Re-establish dept. organization with potential leaders within 2-months. (Silterra)
- Developed a dedicated and competent team. Whole team promoted in 4 years. (ams Osram).
- Managed department during resource crisis with half of headcount and loss of competency. (ams Osram)
Technical
- Resolved year-long chronic metal peeling issue inherited from transfer-fab. (ams Osram)
- Qualified second tool-type to enhance tool utilisation and ease capacity constraint. (ams Osram)
- Resolved HCL gas contamination issue from incoming tube trailer facility which scrapped over two thousand of wafers over 5 months. (Infineon)
- Qualified a key product from reduced epitaxy process to atmospheric process to ease capacity constraint. (Infineon)
- Resolved metal defect issue that caused 2% yield loss and multiple line stops. (TECH)
Business
- Double up capacity for silicon photonic product in 6 months timeframe. (Silterra)
- Gained 20% cleanroom space from DBR Deposition equipment section. Tool counts from 8 tools to 10 tools. (ams Osram)
- Avoided Euro3M capital investment of one sputtering platform through throughput gain. (ams Osram)
- Fire-fighting production bottleneck during stretched factory ramps. (Infineon)
- Millions of saving in test wafers through projects in usage reduction & reclaim. (all)
Certification
- Train-The-Trainer Accreditation by Malaysia HRDCorp. (2023)
- IATF Lead Auditor Certification by SGS Certification Body. (2023)
- Certified in Neuro Linguistic Programming by ABNLP (2021)
- ICF Accredited Coaching by Authentic Education Australia (2021)
Skills
- 8D Problem Solving
- 5 Whys Root-Cause Analysis
- PDCA, SPC, FMEA
- Coaching
- Leadership mindset
- Wafer fab fabrication
Languages
Mandarin
First Language
English
Advanced
C1
Hobbies and interests
- Running, Badminton
- Reading
Timeline
Deputy Director
Silterra Malaysia
06.2025 - Current
Module Manager
Globalfoundries
01.2024 - 01.2025
Trainer
Freelance
02.2023 - 12.2023
Senior Engineering Manager
ams Osram
02.2016 - 01.2023
Process Manager
Infineon Technology
07.2011 - 01.2016
Operation Manager
Infineon Technologies
05.2010 - 06.2011
Staff Engineer (Process)
Infineon Technologies
05.2005 - 04.2010
Senior Engineer (Process)
TECH Semiconductor (Currently Micron)
08.2000 - 04.2005
Engineer
APV Pte Ltd
07.1997 - 07.2000
Master of Business Administration -
University of Southern Queensland
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
The University of Oklahoma