In order to improve the competitiveness of next-generation NAND flash memory, Samsung Electronics will upgrade its NAND core equipment supply chain in 2024 at its Pyeongtaek P1 plant, with most of the future production lines switching from V6 NAND to the more advanced V8 NAND, according to etnews.
The move is partly a disguised production cut to reduce the high V6 NAND inventory and partly a preparation for the future expansion of V8 NAND production capacity.
According to the report, in order to revolutionize the NAND core equipment supply chain next year, all major NAND production bases are actively conducting equipment operation tests.
Previously, foreign media had reported that Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor product inventory had increased to some extent in the first half of this year. At the end of the first half of the year, the company’s equipment solutions division inventory increased to 33.69 trillion won, higher than 29.06 trillion won at the end of last year.
In the second quarter of this year’s earnings call, Samsung Electronics executives said the company plans to continue to cut production of memory chips in the second half of the year, especially NAND flash memory, in order to accelerate inventory normalization.
Last week, industry sources said that in order to reduce NAND inventory, the company will implement large-scale production cuts, the goal is to reduce inventory to normal levels by the end of this year, that is, 6-8 weeks.
On August 21 of this year, industry sources revealed that Samsung Electronics is introducing the latest equipment from Japan’s Tokyo Electron (TEL) into the NAND production line at its third plant (P3) in the Pyeongtaek Park. The TEL equipment the company is purchasing is etching equipment for the entire semiconductor process.
