Ai-Tzu Chang

Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management

Categories: Gas & Chemical Systems, Production Spare Parts, Wafer Containers, Facilities Management & Services

• Responsible for indirect procurement category management within semiconductor manufacturing facilities, covering gas & chemical systems, facilities services, production spare parts, wafer containers, and engineering-related capital/maintenance projects.
• Partnered closely with Engineering, Facilities, Operations, and EHS teams to define Scope of Work (SOW), clarify technical requirements, assess execution risks, and develop sourcing and commercial strategies.

Led end-to-end procurement activities for complex engineering and maintenance projects, including:

• Nitrogen Tank Decommissioning Projects
• Gas & Chemical Equipment Preventive Maintenance Programs
• Facilities OPEX Service Contracts
• Facility Improvement & Equipment Maintenance Projects

Led full sourcing lifecycle and competitive bidding processes.

• RFI: Conducted market research and identified potential suppliers
• RFP: Evaluated technical and commercial proposals with cross-functional stakeholders
• RFQ: Managed formal pricing competitions and final supplier selection
• Established structured supplier evaluation frameworks and baseline cost models to ensure competitive pricing aligned with market benchmarks and project requirements.
• Facilitated cross-functional review meetings integrating Engineering, Facilities, EHS, and Operations input to complete technical, commercial, and risk assessments for supplier selection.
• Expanded supplier base beyond existing vendors to enhance supply chain resilience and improve cost competitiveness.
• Leveraged AI-driven market intelligence tools to identify alternative suppliers with equivalent technical capabilities not yet included in the Approved Vendor List (AVL).

Executed comprehensive supplier qualification processes, including:

• Financial risk assessment
• Technical capability evaluation
• Industry reference and track record validation
• Project performance review
• Supply risk assessment

Collaborated with stakeholders to review supplier historical performance and critical incident records to ensure compliance with Micron standards.

• Developed and implemented a 10-year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model covering equipment, spare parts, consumables, maintenance, and lifecycle costs.
• Drove significant cost reduction initiatives through design optimization and supplier transitions, improving consumable efficiency and reducing overall lifecycle cost.
• Performed Should-Cost analysis and PPP benchmarking to validate pricing fairness and strengthen negotiation leverage.
• Conducted global price benchmarking across OEM suppliers in different regions, identifying significant price disparities (e.g., lower pricing from Singapore distributors versus Taiwan market), enabling targeted cost optimization strategies.
• Led Long-Term Agreement (LTA) negotiations and renewal strategies through demand consolidation, price locking mechanisms, and improved commercial terms.
• Negotiated Free of Charge (FOC) value-adds from suppliers, including spare parts, consumables, training, technical support, and extended warranties, enhancing overall procurement value.
• Achieved over 15% average cost reduction across indirect procurement categories.
• Implemented new supplier design solutions that reduced spare parts consumption, maintenance frequency, and labour effort, while leveraging AI-driven market intelligence to identify competitively positioned alternative suppliers, resulting in a 20% total cost reduction.
• Successfully introduced alternative overhaul kit solutions, achieving lower equipment acquisition and maintenance costs with up to 50% TCO reduction
• Leveraged AI-based market intelligence to identify alternative suppliers and strengthen supply chain competitiveness
• Sustained continuous cost savings through LTA strategies and global pricing benchmark analysis
• Executed purchase orders (POs) only after full technical validation, commercial alignment, and management approval, driving smooth project execution and supplier onboarding.

• Led operations team in daily tasks, optimising workflow and increasing efficiency by 20%.
• Facilitated continuous improvement initiatives, encouraging innovation and excellence in operations.
• Monitored staff performance and developed improvement plans.
• Advised senior management on facilities needs and delivered ongoing operational support.
• Coordinated with suppliers to negotiate contracts, securing better terms and improving profit margins.

Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management

• Managed strategic sourcing activities for semiconductor and electronic component categories, including supplier evaluation, cost optimization, technology assessment, and supply risk management.
• Led RFQ processes by identifying qualified suppliers beyond the Approved Vendor List (AVL), leveraging AI-enabled sourcing tools, market intelligence, and industry benchmarking to expand the supplier base and enhance competition.
• Collaborated closely with RD, Quality to evaluate alternative component solutions and successfully introduce new suppliers, achieving approximately 20% cost reduction through component qualification and supplier diversification.
• Conducted annual TCO analyses across product BOM structures, identifying cost optimization opportunities and delivering an overall 8% BOM cost reduction through supplier negotiations, component substitution, and design optimization initiatives.
• Developed and executed supplier consolidation strategies by reducing low-spend suppliers and concentrating business volume with key strategic partners, strengthening supplier relationships, improving purchasing leverage, and enhancing operational efficiency.
• Established dual-sourcing strategies and supply risk mitigation plans for critical components to improve supply continuity, reduce dependency on single-source suppliers, and enhance overall supply chain resilience.
• Facilitated supplier technology reviews and roadmap presentations to evaluate future investment directions, product development plans, and emerging technologies, supporting long-term sourcing strategies and product competitiveness.
• Partnered with R&D teams to identify design-change opportunities and alternative Power IC solutions, enabling cost-effective design-in activities while maintaining technical and quality requirements.
• Utilized AI-driven supplier discovery and sourcing methodologies to accelerate supplier identification, market analysis, and quotation activities, delivering:Significant reduction in supplier scouting and RFQ cycle times from weeks to days.
  Enhanced cost competitiveness through systematic supplier benchmarking and data-driven supplier selection.
  Improved supply chain resilience by rapidly identifying alternative sources and contingency suppliers during supply disruptions.
  Increased sourcing efficiency and visibility across global supplier markets.
  

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

• Played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic and global semiconductor shortage, working in an environment where supplier capacity in certain categories dropped to approximately 20% of normal output.
• Developed and maintained daily shortage tracking reports and supply-demand analyses to enhance management decision-making and ensure manufacturing continuity.
• Collaborated with suppliers, and executive management teams to expedite critical materials, mitigate shortages, and secure production supply under highly constrained market conditions.
• Gained extensive knowledge of semiconductor and electronic component (Include Active and Passive components), supply chains, including:

-Wafer fabrication processes
-Packaging and testing operations
-Component manufacturing lead times
-Production capacity constraints
-Raw material and metal commodity sourcing
-Logistics and transportation networks

• Monitored supplier production schedules and shipment status, coordinating recovery plans for delayed deliveries due to factory shutdowns and transportation bottlenecks.
• Assisted suppliers in resolving logistics challenges, focusing on shipment tracking and port congestion management to facilitate timely recovery activities.
• Analyzed component cost structures, market trends, raw material impacts, and supply-demand dynamics to support sourcing and inventory management decisions.
• Conducted supplier visits and factory audits following the pandemic period to strengthen supplier relationships, improve collaboration, and enhance supply chain visibility.
• Worked closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve excess and obsolete inventory issues following demand normalization, reducing inventory exposure and improving working capital efficiency.
• Successfully qualified and introduced Taiwan-based alternative suppliers during the supply shortage period, achieving 25%–50% cost savings compared with incumbent suppliers while improving supply flexibility and risk diversification.
• Built long-term supplier partnerships through continuous communication, supply chain collaboration, and strategic business reviews.

• Managed sourcing and supply continuity for critical IC and semiconductor components during a period of severe industry-wide component shortages.
• Worked closely with sourcing managers and key suppliers to monitor material allocation, production capacity, and delivery schedules, ensuring manufacturing continuity under constrained supply conditions.
• Participated in regular business reviews and supply recovery meetings with semiconductor manufacturers, distributors, and strategic suppliers to secure component availability and improve supply visibility.
• Evaluated supplier capabilities, competitive positioning, technology roadmaps, and product development strategies to support long-term sourcing decisions.
• Developed a comprehensive understanding of supplier strengths, weaknesses, manufacturing capabilities, and future technology trends across semiconductor and electronic component categories.
• Collaborated with RD and Quality teams to identify and qualify alternative components and second-source suppliers during shortage periods.
• Supported design-change initiatives by introducing alternative components from local Taiwan suppliers and China-based supply chain partners, reducing supply risks while achieving significant cost advantages.
• Applied strategic sourcing methodologies to balance cost, supply security, and inventory objectives, ensuring stable material availability while minimizing operational risk.
• Analyzed inventory levels, supply demand conditions, and inventory turnover performance to optimize stocking strategies and improve working capital efficiency.
• Monitored raw material supply, manufacturing processes, country of origin impacts, and geopolitical supply chain risks to support sourcing and risk mitigation decisions.
• Maintained strong supplier relationships through continuous communication, business reviews, and collaborative problem-solving, strengthening long term supply partnerships.

• Participated in management meetings and cross-functional discussions with department managers and senior leaders, gaining insight into strategic decision-making and business planning.
• Developed strong business acumen through direct exposure to leadership discussions, organizational planning, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Analyzed operational challenges from strategic and execution perspectives, gaining insights into contributions of different business units to corporate objectives.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance workflow integration, streamline communication mechanisms, and clarify interdepartmental coordination requirements.
• Supported departmental projects and process reviews, applying best practices in operational management, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Rotated across key departments to understand organizational structures, business processes, operational execution, and performance management practices.