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In
what can only be described as frustration, Gerhard Rauter moderated a
panel discussion entitled “The real needs of Fab Managers” at the
recent PV Fab Managers’ Forum in Dresden, and made a general appeal to
the audience to stop talking about standards for PV manufacturing and
start enacting them.
The ITRS (International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors) is an international guideline for use in gauging standards of technology to which the semiconductor industry's major players should adhere. Gerhard Rauter believes there should be an equivalent for the solar industry.
Concern was raised from the floor that not enough progress had been made since the first forum one year ago when similar issues were raised of industry manufacturing strategy. Mr Rauter responded that a select key group would be meeting again on the 1st of April in Munich but he called on his undisclosed colleagues to prepare to make decisions at that next meeting. “To be successful, we need to establish a zero failure culture and performance,” said Rauter, who went on to outline key cost reduction drivers for the industry.
Participants in the forum included leading industry figures, Sylvere Leu, CEO of Conergy; Takashi Tomita, former CEO of Sharp Solar; Lingjun Zhang, General Manager of Canadian Solar, Inc.; Lars Podlowski, CTO Solon AG; and Frank Schitthelm, Head of Engineering Deutsche Cell (a division of Solarworld AG).
By David Owen
