This paper introduces a special issue entirely devoted to the topic 'Statistics for Microelectronics'. The relevance of the theme for this journal is due to both the primary role that microelectronics has in many business activities of the modern society and to the complexity of the production process of integrated circuits that are obtained by several different steps performed on a wafer (i.e., a thin silicon slice of a few inches of diameter). Advanced statistical methods are necessary to monitor and improve this process because the yield of this industrial manufacturing is typically tiny and requires a very high precision. After a brief review of the semiconductor manufacturing process, we point out how statistical methodologies can contribute to this. Finally, we introduce the papers that discuss some key aspects of this subject. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords: semiconductor manufacturing; integrated circuit; process control Microelectronics industry faces a relevant role in modern society. Microchips, which control electronic devices, enable systems and products that we use to work, communicate, travel, entertain, harness energy, treat illness, and make scientific discoveries. They are present in several different kinds of objects, ranging from computers, tablets and smartphones to cars and planes, household appliances, and military systems.Also, the huge advances in medical devices are being driven by most recent developments in semiconductors that permit to reduce size, cost, and power consumption of medical electronic devices, yet boasting significant improvement in overall performance. A variety of not invasive, portable, and wearable devices are now usable to monitor the condition of a patient, such as the contact lens sensor for continuous monitoring of intra-ocular pressure. Moreover, several implantable and invasive medical devices are available as well, such as insulin pump for drug delivery and defibrillators.Over the last 50 years, the semiconductors content in electronic equipment has grown up significantly, raising from 2% in 1965 to 23% in 2012, when the total worldwide semiconductor revenue reached $299.9 bn.
