A critical inspection inspec Inc.

Electronic devices keep getting smaller and more complex thanks to the remarkable progress made in semiconductor technology. But semiconductors must undergo a rigorous quality control process to ensure their circuits are free of defects. Experts at the aptly named inspec Inc. play a critical role: they create specialized inspection equipment using their expertise in image processing, optical sensors and mechatronics.

Business at inspec has been, in the words of President and CEO Masashi Sugawara, "like a rollercoaster." Originally founded as Taiyo Manufacturing in 1984, the company mainly produced magnetic heads for VCRs. Yet when its main client transitioned to in-house manufacturing, inspec needed a new business model to survive. Sugawara recounts how a process of deliberation and consultation led to the company changing its business model in 1995 and later rebranding itself as inspec Inc. in 2001. Its aim was to manufacture equipment for semiconductor R&D.

Now, business has recovered and is growing once again. At the heart of it is inspec's equipment for the fast and precise inspection of printed circuit boards, using a high-speed camera and lens. While the company relies on external partners for machine assembly and aspects of software production, all its technology is proprietary. "We do all planning and development in-house," Sugawara says.

Inspec has achieved its goal of being the best in its new industry. Sugawara has compared his own with competitors' products and is confident inspec is "the world leader for performance in this industry." As for quality, Sugawara notes that customers who bought their equipment 15 years ago are still using it today. Inspec's staff help maintain that trend by offering customers upgrades to their machines' core-processing engines.