Thiruselvam Ponniah

Senior Automation Section Manager · Semiconductor Manufacturing & CIM

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

📋 Executive Summary

With over two decades driving the systems side of the semiconductor manufacturing industry, I specialize in evolving shop-floor operations into cost-effective, automated, and data-driven manufacturing lines.

Starting my career when production tracking relied on text-based UNIX terminals, I have directed major factory-wide automation initiatives—progressing from legacy MES systems to modern Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS), AGV deployments, SECS/GEM equipment integration, and sub-micron traceability standards.

🛠️ Core Expertise

Factory Automation & Material Handling: AGV AMHS, Magazine Stockers, Concept Line deployment, and equipment communication standards (SEMI E23, SEMI E84).
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) & Traceability: Die-level traceability capability using SEMI E142, automated lot transaction architectures, Wafer Mapping, and Strip Mapping systems.
Equipment Integration: SECS/GEM host interfaces, automarking laser data transfers, real-time messaging buses, and shop-floor protocol bridging.
Engineering Leadership: Multi-disciplinary software & IT team leadership, developer CI/CD workflows, process simplification, and equipment OEE uptime optimization.
Embedded & Systems Engineering: Low-cost embedded controller hardware prototyping, NCR SVR4 UNIX administration, Windows Server environments, and relational database systems.

💼 Professional Experience

Carsem (M) Sdn. Bhd. | 14+ Years Total

Senior Automation Section Manager (Nov 2017 – Present)
- Implemented AGV Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) and Magazine Stockers for the Concept Line.
- Coordinated SEMI E23 and SEMI E84 compliance directly with equipment vendors for automated handling.
- Conceptualized and deployed plant-wide Die-Level Traceability capabilities.
- Engineered real-time messaging bus infrastructure for synchronized, low-latency system integration.
Senior Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Section Manager (Jan 2017 – Oct 2017)
- Built advanced wafer/strip traceability pipelines leveraging the SEMI E142 standard.
- Directed a team of IT automation engineers delivering process simplification and step elimination.
- Spearheaded OEE improvement programs reducing line response times and operator dependencies.
- Developed embedded hardware integration projects that significantly reduced total automation deployment costs.
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Section Manager (Jan 2012 – Dec 2016)
- Conceptualized and executed the factory Automated Lot Transaction System.
- Authored and presented whitepaper on lot automation at the IEEE/CPMT IEMT Conference.

Technical Lead | NerdSquad Solutions (Jun 2010 – Dec 2011)

Led technical delivery of distributed application architectures in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Assistant Project Manager | iDimension Systems (Sep 2008 – May 2010)

Spearheaded requirements analysis and architectural design documents for assembly lot tracking and MES.
Structured core development environments and infrastructure for enterprise-scale packaging workflows.

Senior Software Engineer & UNIX SysAdmin | Carsem (Jul 2000 – Aug 2008)

Developed core Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) applications and administered the production SFC UNIX Server.
Maintained UniVision MultiValue DBMS and developed plant lot tracking, wafer defect mapping, and leadframe verification systems.

📄 Publications & Research

Automated Assembly Lot Transaction
35th IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology (IEMT) Conference (2012)
Focuses on regaining valuable line cycle time and eliminating manual data entry by architecting automated lot tracking across multi-step assembly lines.

🎓 Education

Wawasan Open University (WOU)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

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