The Future Years: A Story of Analog Devices' Start-up in Limerick

In 1976 Analog Devices began operations in a small SFADCO advance factory unit in Limerick with a start-up team of 13 people – among them author of THE FUTURE YEARS, Pat Cunneen. 

Today, Analog’s Limerick wafer fabrication facility is one of the most important success stories in the company’s 50-year history. It employs over 1,200 scientists, engineers, production and support staff in one of the largest, most successful, most technologically advanced campuses in the country and has achieved a sustained stream of world class innovative new products, profitability, and growth. 

With its consistently high levels of added-value employment, investment and growth, Analog has been hugely important to the economy of Limerick. In turn, the Limerick campus has been the source of extraordinary talent, hugely important to the continued global success of Analog Devices Inc., and has been a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the IDA as it regularly showcases Limerick’s success with its leading-edge technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. 

Pat Cunneen’s story covers the first dozen or so years of the start-up, recording and celebrating the success of all the people who worked in Analog over those early years, including those sadly lost along the way. It touches on the technology and operational challenges, the vibrant sports and social environment but, mostly, it is a story about people. 

THE FUTURE YEARS is an important contribution to the industrial history of Limerick – and Ireland – over the past half-century.

Author royalties will be donated to Milford Care Centre, Limerick.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Milford Care Centre

Acknowledgements

Foreword (Dr. Ed Walsh)

Introduction

Chapter 1: Background & Context

What Analog Devices Makes: The Incredible Integrated Circuit

Analog & the Limerick Investment Decision

Irish Industry in the 1970s

Irish Industrial Relations in the 1970s

The Role of the Industrial Development Authority

Chapter 2:   The Early Years

Hank Krabbe & the Start-Up Crew

Early Days

Facing the Recruitment Challenge 

The Challenges of Wafer Fabrication

The End of the Beginning

Here Comes the Cavalry: The Search for Replacements – Wave 2 Recruitment 

Production Starts

First Leadership Transition: Tom Urwin

The Early 1980s & the Story Continues

Growing & Building

Building for the Future: The ‘Void’

Chapter 3: Recruitment & Retention

The Hunt for Talent & Experience

College Recruiting 

Employee Retention

Chapter 4: Key Relationships & Learnings

Customers & the Quality Story

University Collaborations & Connectivity 

Chapter 5: Transitions & Transformations

The Second Leadership Transition: Brian McAloon

Transformation from a Divisional Silo to an Interconnected Campus

Chapter 6: A Wide Sense of Community

Supporting Community

A Sporting & Social Life Too!

A Talented Creative Energy: ‘Tops’

Chapter 7: Reflections in a Rear-View Mirror

Analog’s Impact on Ireland’s High-Tech Landscape

Employees Becoming Entrepreneurs?

An Evolving Role for HR?

Continued FDI Depends on Developing Technical Talent

Learning, Responsiveness & Adaptability

“The Future Years Have Come”

Afterword: Reflections & Appreciation (Ray Stata)

About the Author

Appendix

Abbreviations

Index