Original Date: 05/01/1992
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

TI employs a single image computer network that links all Texas Instrument/Semiconductor Group/Military Products (TI/SG/MP) computers and facilities worldwide. This capability allows users to view on-line reports at any site and send messages and share information with any other TI site in the world. This powerful capability has become the means for managing and controlling all of TI's business and operations. It was developed in-house in the early 1980s, and most primary applications systems have been on line and fully operational since 1988.

Information in the applications systems databases is accessed and input in several ways. The most common is typing and retrieving information on preformatted transaction screens. User friendly menus lead users through the system. All databases are defined in a system-wide format called FOCUS -- this provides another means of quickly accessing information and specifying data formats by writing FOCUS programs that extract data in any form that the user requires from any of the databases in the system.

To maintain the integrity of its data, TI/SG/MP has a security system -- Integrated Total Security System -- that regulates what information can be accessed on the TI/SG/MP computer network and who can access it.

The system is controlled from the Dallas operating center and from regional computer centers throughout the world. All regional computer centers have three operating systems: Information Management Systems, Time Share Option, and a Job Entry System. Each operating system is designed to manage certain types of software. Major application software systems include Semiconductor Business Systems, (SBS), Semiconductor Planning Systems (SPS), Semiconductor Manufacturing Systems (SMS), and Semiconductor Specification Systems (SPEC). Supporting all the software systems are databases that contain information on devices, device specifications, marketing and customer information, financial records, personnel records, planning and scheduling data, and other information. All databases and systems are fully integrated and accessible in real time.

The major applications systems handle every aspect of operations and business. SBS is designed to handle all aspects of sales order administration from quoting prices to the customer, scheduling, building, shipping the product, and invoicing the customer. It is fully integrated with the SMS and SPS systems. SBS subsystems include marketing, sales billing and backlog, return materials, bar code systems, product database, purchase agreements, electronic data interchange, a JIT program, inventory, warehousing, and shipping.

SPS optimizes worldwide marketing requirements with manufacturing utilization. It interfaces with SBS and SMS to integrate marketing information, customer service information, operating plans, and factory information. SPS has improved TI/SG/MP's on-time product delivery as well as reduced planning cycle time, inventories, and production lead times. SPS has also significantly improved planner productivity and factory utilization.

SMS links over 40 manufacturing sites and provides TI/SG/MP Semiconductor Group with integrated manufacturing systems and services. Subsystems include material and resource management, process specification management, statistical process control, equipment automation, engineering data collection and analysis, performance reporting and others.

SPEC is a strategic system supporting long range business needs. It supports compliance with customer requirements, control of customer-driven specifications, and worldwide specification standardization.

In addition to serving as key processes through which TI/SG/MP conducts its business, many of the applications systems and subsystems have been packaged as products and sold to other companies. These systems have helped TI/SG/MP achieve world class manufacturing capabilities and are also helping to improve the manufacturing capabilities of other companies.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.