I think the idea was that they have got it down to 6 weeks to start and complete a wafer on an engineering fab line, i.e. a development line into which a batch of 24 wafers can be done as a one-off batch, end to end. I imagine in a production fab line the wafers are moved through the stations fairly rapidly, so it effectively takes only as long to produce the wafer as each of the cumulative tasks take, and not much longer. I am not sure but I think the set of 24 may all get done together rather than one at a time. Those better familiar with wafer processing may shed more light here than I can.
I expect this will deliver wafers, and thus finished chips, faster than we have been used to expecting. Needless to say I am under no illusions that the rate of production is a variable that the company will not be completely on top of. If they say they are putting in train a system to deliver many millions of chips a year then I believe them.
Speaking of which I went back through a couple of recent announcements to see what they have said that indicates their involvement with EM. I found the following:
"... Quarterly Activities Report and Appendix 4C As has been reported throughout the period, achievements were mostly technical in nature, focused on advancing the Company’s proven prototype technologies into a mass-production product. Primary activities in the reporting period included: - In-person technology demonstrations to strategic companies that maintain relevant staffing in Israel - Continual development and improvement of the demonstration systems - Optimization of product and its fabrication methods focused on improving product cost, yield, and reliability - Expanding our technology portfolio - Advancing cooperation and accompanying agreements to secure both short and long term mass production requirements As detailed previously, the company had successfully produced and commenced demonstrations of both individual and multi-chip systems to a number of potential customers that maintain some relevant expertise in Israel. While our efforts have so far served well as an initial foray to the market, it rapidly became apparent that to advance customer engagement while the world remains under strict COVID-19 travel restrictions, our efforts must be augmented by producing and providing working engineering samples that can be independently assessed by customers, at their facilities. Such an “adjustment” poses significant challenges as it essentially necessitates accelerating production and product commercialization activities (as well as the procurement of capital needed to support such activities). It demands the production of many more devices and systems, as well as the adequate “maturing” of the technology, so that it befittingly and securely can be evaluated independently, at customer sites. While many such commercialization activities were already underway, our demonstration systems were originally designed to be operated by our engineers and systems. Pivoting from this approach necessitates expediting a wide range of interdependent and third-party reliant activities, including (but by no means limited to): - Finalization of product optimization for mass production - Transitioning MEMS manufacturing and packaging from engineering lines to mass-production lines - Translation and compilation of source code to embedded firmware, as well as the inclusion of encryption and other IP safeguard methods - Development and fabrication of independently operated demonstration systems and tools - Production of self-guiding customer oriented materials (such as reference design kits, functional and application guidelines, operating instructions, and so on. - An urgent need to bring negotiations to conclusion as to secure both short and long term qualitative and quantitative mass-production requirements in comprehensive signed agreements. ..."
As to the plan to show holders that the chips do actually work this was addressed in the July 2021 response to the ASX:
"... Our demonstration systems are designed to serve the strategic commercial interests of the company, attracting and engaging potential customers and industry influencers. Upon achievement management intends to announce confirmation that the out-of- cleanroom demonstration has been sufficiently upgraded as to commence demonstrations in Israel to select industry players.
We greatly respect our shareholders interest and enthusiasm to experience our technology first hand – but this is not a cogent priority for the Company, nor is it a practical one given the current global travel limitations. The standing plan is to include demonstration of our technology at our next AGM, however if and when travel restrictions by and between Australia, Israel and connecting countries ease, management will consider holding a special in-person meeting to demonstrate the technology to its Australian shareholders. ..."
I certainly would be pleased to hear them for myself. Covid permitting, I would even be keen to go to Sydney just for that demo. However I believe that just seeing the chips installed in a demo unit actually playing music will do a huge amount to counter the constant trash talking by down-rampers. That would not be hard to do once they have the units ready to show to customers. (or even now!)
(20min delay)