This pop-up window describes an application that I designed, programmed, implemented, and maintained for fourteen years. I was recently reminded of this particular application when I discovered a website that summarized its data over that same period. The application would not have survived without migrating to a personal computer. Its calculations would not have survived years of scrutiny by the semiconductor industry if it did not fully support the audit staff at Price Waterhouse that entered its data

In 1975, I developed a database and reporting system that provided key reports to the semiconductor industry. I migrated the system from a timesharing computer to an early IBM Personal Computer. The migration was a simple process because of the original design. Because the system was data-driven, only minor revisions were required through 1990 when I exported the raw data (shipments and bookings by company, product classification, and geographic area for 1976 -1989) to a flat file for conversion into a new reporting system using the Paradox DBMS. The Semiconductor Industry Association posted a report on their website entitled "Global Billings Report History (Actuals), 1976-1989." Their report summarizes the raw data that I had exported.

Believe it or not, the system's conception is chronicled by the Smithsonian Institute in a September 20, 1975 article by Don Hoefler.  "Undaunted, WEMA this week informed key industry figures by letter that it hopes to compile and publish monthly reports of actual semiconductor bookings and shipments." The article contains the high level specifications for the application, each of which was achieved. For a period of time, the data was compiled by Arthur Anderson, LLP. Apparently, that responsibility was assumed by the CPA firm of Mohler, Nixon & Williams in 2002.