Katherine Dei Cas, right, executive vice president and head of the delivery systems & services and specialty gases businesses of Merck, poses with WooKyu Kim, managing director of Merck Korea, during their visit to the company's office in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 26, 2023. Courtesy of Merck Korea

Merck's Delivery Systems & Services (DS&S) and Specialty Gases (SG) businesses supply electronic materials and specialty gases essential for chip manufacturing to chip makers.

The German multinational company plans to strengthen its presence in the growing semiconductor market by further solidifying its cooperation with Korean chip companies, its executive said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times.

"Korea is home to many of the world's most impressive semi fabs and is therefore one of our key markets. Korea is a critical location in the growth of the semiconductor industry with large, leading players manufacturing here. We re focused on capturing this growth and supporting our customers to win in this marketplace," Katherine Dei Cas, executive vice president and head of the DS&S and SG businesses at Merck, said.

"By consecutively securing the commissioning of key projects, our team in Korea has enabled the expansion of of our geographical reach, strengthening our position as the most global of local partners."

Despite a severe industry downturn, Merck's DS&S business reported an extraordinary record year in 2023. Dei Cas, the global head of both the DS&S and SG businesses, aims to replicate the DS&S success in the specialty gas business.

The executive visited Korea last October to discuss additional investment plans. She revealed she would be visiting the country again next week to strengthen partnerships with key customers here.

"With my recent appointment and extended leadership responsibilities as the Global Head of both DS&S and Specialty Gases, I look forward to further strengthening our position as the right technical partner for our customers," the executive said. "This visit is an essential part of my job as the new leader of Specialty Gas organization. Connecting with our people in Korea and fostering deeper relationships with our valued customers in this country are fundamental to my determination to lead Specialty Gases with the same passion and dedication I lead in DS&S."

Merck is a leading integrated materials solutions provider in the chip industry, supporting every step of the chip-making process.

Its portfolio includes specialty gases, thin films, planarization, and patterning materials. Its DS&S division develops and deploys delivery equipment to ensure the safe and responsible handling of specialty chemicals and gases for chip manufacturing.

Dei Cas highlighted the company's integrated portfolio of materials and equipment as a key differentiator as her company's unique edge in the semiconductor manufacturing supply chaing. This combination enables the company to provide immediate support to Korean semiconductor companies as they expand globally.

A business site of Merck's Delivery Systems & Services in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Merck Korea

The Merck executive added the company is actively utilizing AI and data in its semiconductor business to reduce its carbon footprint and increase productivity, adding that it has been making active use of AI.

"In DS&S, we're pioneering the use of AI in critical aspects of S&OP (sales and operations planning) such as inventory optimization and risk management which contribute to strengthening our supply resilience. By simulating and analyzing the effects of inflecting demand situations, we're better positioned to make tactical production and supply planning decisions. This also contributes to a reduction of the carbon footprint of production streams by predicting the optimal quantity of material needed," Dei Cas said.

"In Spec Gases, we're also leveraging AI to expedite the discovery of new materials that will help us develop and co-develop sustainable solutions for our customers. We are also pioneering the use of digital twins that combine cutting-edge reinforcement learning algorithms to drive AI-enabled supply resiliency and plant optimization."

Dei Cas built her career up to a leadership position in the semiconductor industry, where women leaders are rare. Sharing advice for career development for female leaders in the industry, the executive emphasized the importance of speaking up and not being afraid to fail.

"I'm a strong believer in the power of allyship as a personal dedication to looking outside ourselves and actively supporting others, while also seeking support in return," she said. "Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and embracing new challenges can be a little uncomfortable – having true allies by your side can be extremely helpful in building confidence in your abilities. My advice: never shy away from being yourself and remember that your unique perspective is your greatest asset. By embracing discomfort and staying true to yourself, you'll unlock your full potential every day."