Japanese semiconductor test equipment maker Advantest Corporation has launched a new software tool aimed at reducing power consumption in chip testing, as the industry faces mounting pressure to curb costs and carbon emissions.
The Advantest Power Optimisation Solution (APOS), designed for the company’s V93000 system-on-chip (SoC) test platform, enables semiconductor foundries and outsourced assembly and test providers to monitor and manage energy use in real time. The system automatically adjusts power draw based on workload, allowing users to cut electricity costs while maintaining performance.
Steven Su, Advantest’s Head of Production Services, said the solution reflected growing demand for energy-efficient manufacturing. “As semiconductor manufacturing becomes more energy-intensive, improving efficiency is critical to both cost savings and sustainability,” he said. “Our APOS allows customers to actively reduce unnecessary power consumption far more effectively and gain deeper insights into energy usage across their test floors.”
Advantest said the software has already been deployed at several customer sites, including at ASE Global Integrated Solutions, where it helped lower test-floor energy waste. “By leveraging APOS’s real-time power monitoring and automation, we’ve significantly reduced energy waste across our test floors,” said Jordan Lin, Vice President at ASE. “This partnership not only enhances operational efficiency but also demonstrates our shared commitment to reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.”
APOS expands Advantest’s Smart TestCell ecosystem, which uses automation and resource management to streamline semiconductor testing. The new tool includes a dashboard providing live visualisation of power consumption, and a central control system for reporting and further optimisation across multiple sites.
The launch comes amid industry-wide efforts to rein in the rising energy demands of chip production and testing, which have become significant contributors to operational costs and emissions.
Advantest, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of automatic test and measurement equipment, used in the production of semiconductors for applications including 5G, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles. The company said APOS is now available globally.
