BMS Software Forums Frequently Asked Questions

What are BMS Forums?

FSA BMS Forums are focused on software and systems, and provide an opportunity for fabless companies to get filtered information on various products on the market so that their needs are specifically addressed. FSA hosts the forums and N-Able Group, an FSA member and semiconductor operations and systems consulting company, facilitates them.

What types of software are highlighted at the Forums?

The forums are held several times per year. Each forum focuses on a specific business process or class of software. The forums that usually take place are:

• Yield & Engineering
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Supply Chain Management
  

What is the typical agenda at the Forums?

A typical agenda is shown below:

We sometimes shift the agenda to consist of 45-minute time slots. Therefore, it would look something like the following:

Presentation time slots include any setup and dismantling in the presentation room. If presenters take less time, we may shift the schedule forward or will use that extra time for lunch and breaks.

Who can present?

Presenters should have a “deliverable” product (not vapor-ware). We prefer that presenters have a demonstrable focus on the fabless segment. However, having a demonstrable focus on semiconductors is enough. We often have more companies offer to present than we have slots for each forum. The basic criteria for being able to present is first come, first served, so confirm early. The exception is FSA member companies, who will get first priority over non-members.

A list of criteria for determining presenters, in order of importance is:

• FSA membership
• Order of confirmation (first come, first served)
• Previous participation (has presented at a forum in the past)
• Proven focus on the fabless environment
  

How are the presenter time slots determined?

Determination of what presenter gets what time slot is done by random draw.

What is the 2006 series venue?

The forums will take place at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

What is the room layout? What is the AV setup?

• The layout for attendee seating is classroom style. Long tables set up with chairs.
• There is a podium/microphone/screen at the front of the room for presenters.
• Typically presenters put their laptop on the podium and control it from there, however, if you’re working in a team (one speaker, one person controlling the laptop), a laptop sitting on the first table can easily reach the LCD and can be controlled by a second person sitting in the audience.
• For an LCD, there will be a Proxima 5900 LCD electronic projector (capable of 1024x768), a screen and a microphone podium. The Proxima is native at 800x600 and interlaced at 1024x768. If your presentation has a lot of detail you want to show, you’re welcome to bring your own LCD with greater resolution.
• There will be a few tables against the back wall for handouts/literature.
  

Will there be an Internet connection?

• If you do decide you want an Internet connection, you are responsible for setting it up and must pay any fees directly to the Santa Clara Convention Center (this is not covered in the fee paid to FSA, see below).
• If you do decide on an Internet connection, please let N-Able Group know that you are arranging it. Although you are responsible for setup and payment, if another presenter at the same forum also wants an Internet connection, N-Able Group can put you in contact with one another and you can probably share the cost.
  

What are the logistics?

• All presentations take place in the same room.
• As shown in the agenda, each presenter gets a time slot (either 45 minutes or an hour). Typically each presenter tries to wrap up by 3 minutes before the hour. The next presenter is waiting outside. At the changeover, we will open the doors to the room, the next presenter will come into the room and walk to the front, plug in his/her laptop to the LCD, or set up his/her own LCD. The previous presenter will leave the room, and the presentation will begin.
• Lunch takes place in the room. No presentations, events or arrangements take place during lunch.
  

Should presenters bring handouts/literature?

• It’s optional. We suggest that you do, but it’s entirely up to you.
• We can help you hand out literature when your presentation begins, or you can leave materials at the back of the room for attendees to pick up.
  

Won’t my competitors see my presentation?

• Although all the presentations take place in the same room, competitors are not allowed in each other’s presentations. When one company on the agenda begins to present, presenters and attendees from another company on the agenda must leave the room.
• We also try to screen registrants for competitors and let them know that they will be unable to attend. Although we do a pretty good job of this, sometimes people do slip through.
• The exception to the restricted competitors rule is if they mutually consent that attendance is OK. If 2 competitors agree with each other that they can attend each other’s presentations, then they can notify us and we’ll allow them to attend. However, they can only attend presentations where they have received consent, any others remain restricted.
• Please keep this competitor restriction in mind when telling people at your company about the forum. They are welcome to attend, but they will only be able to sit through your presentation.
  

When should presenters show up?
Because of the competitor restriction outlined above, presenters will be unable to enter the room until it is their presentation time. Presenters probably don’t want to show up until about 30 or 45 minutes before their scheduled time slot. We prefer 30 or 45 minutes early rather than 15 or 20 because sometimes presenters finish early and the schedule shifts forward.

Who will be in the audience?

• Although these forums are sponsored by FSA and the primary focus is to benefit FSA members, anyone, whether a member of FSA or not, can attend. The past forums have had attendees from a broad spectrum of companies, including large IC companies with their own manufacturing, fabless IC companies, manufacturers, system integrators and others. The majority of attendees are fabless IC companies; these companies range in revenue from several million to one billion, with most falling between $50 to $250 million annually.
• At each forum, we expect people from 50-75 companies to attend with a total attendance in excess of 100. There are typically 40-80 people in the room at any given time. Your target audience will fall into several categories:
  • Fabless companies with no internal manufacturing
  • Fabless companies with some internal manufacturing (usually test)
  • Fabless suppliers (foundry, probe, assembly and test)

What are some tips / guidelines to making a successful presentation?

• What the audience DOES want to see and hear:
  • What your products and services can do and how they can help fabless companies enhance customer satisfaction, increase profitability, improve internal manufacturing operations, manage more effectively, etc.
  • They would like to hear about your fabless reference accounts and what your software has done for them. You may have your customers participate in your presentation if you like.
  • Some demonstration of your software if possible/applicable.
• What they DO NOT NECESSARILY want to see and hear:
  • What your software did for General Motors or Dow Corning
  • How your software solved a Motorola problem involving 23 plants and 40 worldwide sales offices, unless it is applicable to fabless companies.
• Short demonstrations of the actual software during the presentation were very popular in past forums. It is highly suggested you do this. However, if possible, do it with software that resides locally (on your laptop or system you bring in). Trying to connect to servers over an Internet connection have had limited success (very slow or cannot connect at all). Especially with 60-80 people watching you do it.

What are the milestones/events leading up to the forum?

• Confirm that your company is interested in presenting.
• Send contact information for the following people in your company: coordinator, presenters, billing (see below for specifics needed).
• Send payment for the forum (see details below).
• You will receive an updated list of attending companies weekly, beginning several weeks before the forum. This will help customize your presentation to your audience if you desire.
• Several days before the forum, you will receive an estimated headcount of attendees. This is to help you plan the number of any handouts/literature.
  

What information is needed from presenters?

If you decide to participate, we need the following information sent to the N-Able Group contact listed below.

• Coordinator - Name, Title, Email, Phone, Fax, Address
• Presenters - Name, Title, Email, Phone, Mobile Phone, Fax, Address
• Billing - Coordinator - Name, Title, Email, Phone, Fax, Address
  

Will the presenters receive a list of attendees?

After the forum each presenting company gets a list of all people who registered/attended. The list contains their name, title, company name, company type, phone, fax and address. By FSA policy, e-mail addresses are not provided.

What is the cost to present at a BMS Forum?

• The cost to present at the forum is $800 for FSA members, and $950 for non-members.
• The money is used to pay for the venue, AV equipment, refreshments and other expenses. It does NOT include an Internet connection. For more information on Internet connections, see the section above.
• FSA is a not-for-profit organization so this forum is not being held to make a profit but rather for educational purposes.
• Feedback from previous presenters indicates the forums have a large benefit/expense ratio. With typically over 50 companies in attendance, all in the semiconductor market, a company can significantly increase its presence and/or jump-start any new initiatives or projects in the industry.
• Once a company confirms that it will be presenting, N-Able Group will send the billing information and address to FSA. FSA will then bill the company.
The presentation fee is due before the presentation date.

What is the contact information for N-Able Group?

What is the contact information for FSA?