Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:42:00
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| Article by:
Margaret Bacon
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 Applied Materials’ chairman and CEO Mike Splinter visiting with fifth grade students at Grant Academy in San Jose. Photo courtesy of Applied Materials. |
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By Margaret Bacon
Applied Materials’ slogan, “think it, apply it,” speaks not only to the corporation’s leadership in nanomanufacturing technology, but to its social responsibility as well.
Through innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass, Applied Materials “aims to improve the way people live.” Yet, the corporation’s commitment to improvement goes beyond technology.
For three years in a row, Applied Materials was voted among the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune Magazine and one of the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” by CRO Magazine. That’s in addition to a long list of many other awards. Committed to making a positive social contribution, Applied Materials is dedicated to environmental stewardship, corporate social responsibility and community commitment through numerous programs, from solar solutions to educational investments. And, as a global leader in technology, the corporation also values global diversity in the workplace.
“Applied Materials has a very diverse global workforce, and I am proud to be part of a company that embraces and leverages different thoughts, experiences, style and culture,” said President and CEO Mike Splinter. “In today’s constantly changing business environment, we must adapt to change and work even harder to increase customer satisfaction, improve effectiveness in everything we do and maintain our leadership in every part of the world. In order to think strategically at the enterprise level, we must position and use our diverse culture as our competitive advantage.”
While Applied Materials has created and commercialized the nanomanufacturing technology that helps produce virtually every semiconductor chip and flat display panel in the world, employees of the corporation are also to be found worldwide. The corporate community includes employees in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Applied Materials’ principal office is in Santa Clara, as is the Technology Center with research and development and manufacturing centers located in Fairfield as well as Austin, Texas, Chelmsford, Mass., Phoenix and Salt Lake City. In this country, Applied Materials has strategic alliances with organizations devoted to the education and professional development of a diverse workforce such as the National Black Physics Student’s Association, National Society of Black Engineers, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Society of Women Engineers and historically Black Colleges and Universities, among others.
The corporation also offers its employees the opportunity to participate in affinity groups organized around a shared interest. Each group supports community programs as well, such as the Hispanic affinity group’s partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium, which provides scholarships to high school students through fundraising and volunteer events.
The women’s affinity group – WPDN – partners with Girlstart, a non-profit organization created to empower girls to excel in math, science and technology. WPDN also raises funds for the Girlstart summer camp program. LEAD, the African American affinity group, works with Habitat for Humanity in the construction of low-cost homes.
The corporation supports diversity and inclusion through policies and practices such as a harassment-free work environment, domestic partner benefits, education assistance program, employee assistance program, stock options or stock awards for all employees, among other benefits. Employees worldwide applaud their employer’s commitment to providing a positive working environment.
With global leadership comes responsibility and Applied Materials, understanding the importance of global citizenship, extends its commitment to its community worldwide.
Digital Equalizer Centers provide high school students in Bangalore, India, with exposure to technology and solar power. Programs in Israel teach computer-networking skills and in China, upcoming scientists are sought through a Future Science Star competition. Each year, a Semiconductor Young Talent Camp is held in Taiwan. And, to teach sustainability and environmental concepts to children, Applied Materials created a card game called Bright Future, which is free of charge to teachers.
Since its inception in 1967, Applied Materials set out “to improve the way people live.” Currently the corporation employs 12,800 people worldwide, and through their guiding principals of energy efficiency, scale, design for the environment and community involvement, they “are creating change from nano scale to giga scale to global scale.”
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