John Kibarian on manufacturing efficiency
From John Kibarian, PDF Solutions: Unlocking $140 bn More Value from Chip Manufacturing with AI · · EE Times
“So $140 billion of waste is actually in some ways an underestimate when you really kind of sit down and think about it.”
On , John Kibarian, Co-Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at PDF SOLUTIONS INC, spoke about manufacturing efficiency during John Kibarian, PDF Solutions: Unlocking $140 bn More Value from Chip Manufacturing with AI on EE Times.
About John Kibarian
John Kibarian, co-founder, president, CEO, and director of PDF Solutions, has been discussing the company's role in semiconductor manufacturing analytics and the use of AI to improve efficiency. In a December 2025 interview, Kibarian stated that the industry's tools operate at 60 to 80% efficiency and that using AI could unlock approximately $140 billion in value. He described PDF Solutions as providing an analytics platform for the semiconductor industry, with around 370 customers, that analyzes yield, operational efficiency, reliability, and quality. Kibarian also discussed the importance of collaboration in the industry, stating that a new model of cooperation is essential for the industry to keep pace with demand and complexity. In a February 2026 podcast, Kibarian reflected on his journey from his PhD thesis on automatic diagnosis of yield learning to co-founding PDF Solutions. He emphasized the importance of business model decisions, stating that "what you choose to charge and what you choose not to charge" shapes a company. He also noted that he wished he had been more ambitious earlier in his career, saying he "assumed too small of what the business could be." In a 2025 earnings call, PDF Solutions reported record revenue and reaffirmed guidance for 21-23% revenue growth for the year.