Toru Sugiura

Asked about the 5-year plan to hire 10,000 people, focusing on the risks of human resource dilution and the impact of increased headcount on fixed costs.

Answer

The company plans to hire 2,000 people annually, with a net increase of 6,500 over 5 years after accounting for retirements. They are confident in their ability to attract talent. Regarding fixed costs, they believe that with the semiconductor market expected to double by 2030, sales per capita and profit per employee can be improved through digital transformation, allowing them to improve the operating profit margin despite the increased headcount.

Asked what could trigger an earlier-than-expected recovery for high-end SoC testers and whether enhanced AI features in mobile devices could drive tester demand without unit volume growth.

Answer

An expedited recovery is unlikely but could be triggered by a faster-than-planned production ramp-up at foundries or a rapid, widespread adoption of AI in smartphones driving new product cycles. The company does expect that more complex AI chips in phones will increase tester demand, regardless of handset unit sales volume.