MANUFACTURING COST OF ACTIVE-MATRIX LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAYS AS A FUNCTION OF PLANT-CAPACITY

This work models the cost of 10-in class active-matrix liquid-crystal display (AM-LCD) manufacturing as a function of plant capacity for bot h first generation plants in 1993 and second generation plants in 1995 , In order to model manufacturing costs as a function of plant capacit y, this work distinguishes between capacity-dependent and capacity-ind ependent costs, Among the costs included in our model are the costs of capital equipment, materials and labor, Decreases in materials and co mponents costs and improvements in process yield are shown to be the p rimary factors driving reductions in manufacturing cost per display fo r large-scale plants, The minimum efficient scale is found to be rough ly 57000 displays per month for a first generation plant and roughly 1 50000 displays per month for a second generation plant.