Ann: AGM CEO Presentation, page-486

May I suggest that those who are interested and have concerns do some cross research into WBT. This company where Fred Bart holds a non-executive position is a polar opposite to AKP, they meet deadlines, very responsive to shareholders, have demonstrated at industry events, and explain every part of the commercialization process to shareholders. I'm not happy with AKP's performance on this front for the record.
Notwithstanding, like AKP:
1. an agreement with a fab was executed pre-production and prior to customer order/s;
2. there was a process (tape out whatever you want to call it) where WBT worked with the fab to iron out issues to enable mass production - in their case it was 9mths-1year;
All is required such that when an order arrives or if a customer is serious about placing an order, there is fabrication ability / capacity available.
Unlike WBT, who approached their fab (skywater) and undertook the arduous pre-production out process, AKP has been working with EM for some years doing test wafers / packaging etc etc, ironing out and simplifying the production process. If you troll previous announcements from AKP they detail this arduous process.
Important to note:
* Prior to the fabrication announcement, at the 2021 AGM, AKP advised that wafer production time had been streamlined down to 6 weeks. Packaging has always been problematic, now solved by the partnership with EM.
* 17/12/21 - AKP sign comprehensive fabrication agreement with EM. Note that until recently China has been closed to O'seas visitors during covid. This is critical, if you take the experience from WBT who chose an US based fab. Even with WBT they announced the impact of covid whereby their staff were prevented from travelling to the US to work with fabs / customers etc. My understanding is on Site or face to face visits are crucial in progressing the pre-production process.
* This culminated in the announcement in March 2022's annual report to shareholders where AKP stated:
"Unquestionably the accomplishments of the period are anchored in the successful completion of the multiyear
effort to develop our patented MEMS transducer in a manner that can be reliably mass produced using commercially viable surface micromachining techniques. This accomplishment of the period is in no small part attributable to the highly productive multiyear
collaboration with Earth Mountain".
We awaiting the final construction of manufacturing facilities at Earth Mountain, now due 2nd qtr this year.

Gltah.