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[Report] Samsung Foundry Division undergoes major restructuring
Samsung Foundry is not doing well with the newest cutting-edge technologies. Now, a new report from a Korean media outlet suggests that Samsung could begin DS Division restructuring by year-end, aiming to break down silos.
According to ChosunBiz (via TrendForce), Samsung plans a major shuffle in the DS (Semiconductor Foundry) Division. The move is aimed at addressing issues like lack of communication and team self-interest.
Additionally, Samsung is also facing competition in the DRAM market, falling behind SK Hynix in HBM and DDR5. TrendForce highlights that the company needs to go beyond restructuring to fundamentally change its organization.
Samsung’s DS division reportedly planning to strengthen collaboration processes by integrating existing team-based structures into a project-centered model, to resolve issues arising from the siloed operation of departments.
Recently, it was reported that the company is planning to cut up to 30% of its workforce in the future. The Korean tech giant’s Foundry business is struggling due to various issues, including low yields for the 3nm GAA process.
Earlier, The Korea Times reported that yield for Samsung’s 3nm process remained in the single digits until Q1 this year, and slightly improved to about 20% in Q2. The company needs the yield rate to be at least 60 percent to trigger mass production.
A Samsung spokesperson cited by Chosun Biz admitted that there continues to be a disconnection between the departments developing new processes and those responsible for mass production, with serious issues arising from the shifting of blame for failures.
The 2024 Korea Advertising Awards honored Samsung for its Galaxy Watch Ultra campaign. The company today announced that it has won the Grand Prize in the ‘Social Communication’ category for the “‘GO ULTRA Challenge.”
The Korea Advertising Association, which organized the 2024 Korea Advertising Awards praised the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra campaign for effectively conveying features and brand philosophy through authentic stories.
In addition, the Korea Advertising Association also highlighted how Samsung’s Watch Ultra campaign fostered brand affinity among the younger generation and inspired Galaxy users to feel touched and proud.
GO ULTRA Challenge tells the story of CJ Park:
A cyclist and YouTuber who lost one of his legs in an accident, but challenges himself to push his limits. The protagonist completes a 294km ride in about 14 hours with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, delivering an inspiring and emotional experience.
Jang So-yeon, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Korea Marketing Team, said, “We are very happy and honored to receive the Korea Advertising Award for campaigns that communicated the authenticity and values of the Galaxy brand. Moving forward, we will continue to create campaigns that resonate with consumers and strengthen our bond with them.”
Voices of Galaxy
Apart from this, the Korean tech giant has also scored a Bronze in the “Online Video” category with the “Voices of Galaxy” campaign for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6.
The ‘Voices of Galaxy’ campaign showcased the diverse stories of celebrities such as Park Eun-bin and Pani Bottle, as well as regular users, through digital videos and photo shoots.
Samsung letting you save up to $190 on Galaxy Buds3 Pro for Cyber Monday. Continuing the Black Friday frenzy, the company is still offering huge benefits on Galaxy AI products.
Galaxy Buds3 Pro is the best Samsung TWS earbuds available on Cyber Monday sale. The deal lets you save up to $190+; up to $100 trade-in credit and $60 off.
Not that all but the company will also give you a free Clip Case with Carabiner. Offer Programs unlock more benefits if you are a student, teacher, govt employee, Samsung employee, or military officer.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro is available in two striking colors: White and Silver. The product was listed with a price tag of $279, but currently available for $188.
Buy Galaxy Buds3 Pro from Samsung.com
The Galaxy Buds feature a 53mAh battery in the earbud, while the case has a 515mAh battery. While ANC is off, you will get up to 30 hours of playtime, while ANC reduces it to 26 hours, which isn’t a bad deal anyway.
The Buds 3 Pro has a 2-way Woofer and Tweeter for immersive audio. The product also features 3 high-SNR microphones to catch the voice during calls. IP57 rating ensures protection against water and sweat aimed at life longevity.
Activate Noise Cancellation is here to elevate your listening experience. When enabled, the intelligent ANC feature significantly reduces noise from surroundings so it won’t degrade your listening experience.
Samsung may ink a deal with TSMC to produce Exynos SoC for Galaxy phones. As the Foundry Division facing a crisis, System LSI may fabricate Exynos using TSMC’s process. This way, Samsung will be able to ensure Exynos’ return.
According to Dealsite (via Jukanlosreve), Samsung could make Exynos SoC at TSMC. It remains to be seen which iteration of application processor the Taiwanese chip maker will produce for Samsung Galaxy phones.
TSMC’s 3nm process is a big hit. The company has major clients like Apple, MediaTek and Qualcomm. In the past, Samsung produced Snapdragon chips, but the flaws in Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hurt it the most.
Currently, the situation is; that Samsung Foundry is unable to produce in-house Exynos chips. We’ve heard rumors of Samsung’s dream chip, which has now become a real dream. System LSI could collaborate with TSMC for contract production.
Dealsite report says:
So, I think there was a hope for about a year that they would really catch up with TSMC. But then their market share dropped sharply again, and recently, it barely exceeded 10%, and even internally, there were talks about “We’re going to make Exynos (Samsung’s mobile application processor) at TSMC.”
Samsung’s System LSI arm designs Exynos processors. The division naturally orders Samsung Foundry to proceed with mass production. The yield rate is not in Samsung’s favor, leading it to forget about production on a large scale.
The existence and growth of Exynos is necessary for Samsung. If there’s no alternative, the company will lose its negotiation power with suppliers. Hence, producing Exynos at TSMC isn’t a bad idea if it benefits the company and consumers.
Notably, Exynos 2500 has reportedly entered mass production, aiming to power the Galaxy Z Flip 7 next year. The Galaxy S25 series could exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip – manufactured by TSMC at 3nm process technology.