Industries / Semiconductors
Leyden GVC Strategic intelligence · SC
GVC · Global Value Chains
Choose the next function.
Build the case to win it.
Decide which semiconductor engineering, test and reliability functions to strengthen in Costa Rica by comparing currency exposure, AI opportunities, workforce transition and viable locations.
For strategy, engineering and business-development leaders
the executive question
Which capability should come next—and what evidence makes it a credible investment?
Retain
Expand
Redesign
Defer
One defined function. Comparable alternatives. A decision supported by evidence.
Verification
Test engineering
Reliability
Failure analysis
Equipment services
Three questions. One management decision.
Connect costs, technology and talent.
01
Currency exposure and costs
How does a stronger colón change operating costs in dollars?
Separate local-currency costs from dollar costs, imported inputs, natural offsets and hedges. Test sensitivity alongside productivity and capacity utilization.
02
AI, employment and skills
Which tasks change—and what is the net value?
Measure tasks reduced, created or expanded, training needs and the net benefit after deployment and workforce-transition costs. For semiconductors, assess engineering, test and reliability workflows, alongside AI-related demand opportunities.
03
Costa Rica and alternative locations
Where does each function have a credible advantage?
Compare equivalent functions, quality, skills, service and capacity. Include investment, transfer, qualification and ramp-up costs before recommending a location.
Company-level conclusions require reconciled operating data. Currency appreciation is one factor, not an assumed cause of job losses; AI adoption does not automatically imply workforce reduction.
international comparison
A regional baseline. A company-specific comparison.
Our sector benchmarking covers Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Canada. These countries play different roles across each value chain.
For an engagement, select the locations the company actually uses or could credibly use. The broad country comparison informs the analysis; it does not replace a function-level business case.
when we can help
A specific decision.
A focused engagement.
01
An engineering footprint is changing
You need to compare functions across sites while accounting for skills, qualification and network requirements.
02
AI creates a new operating choice
You want to assess verification, test or equipment use cases with utilization, quality and workforce effects in view.
03
A capacity opportunity needs scrutiny
You need to establish whether customer demand, scale, infrastructure and capabilities support a staged investment.
what management receives
From analysis to a usable decision.
A company-specific diagnostic, scoped around selected functions and credible comparator locations.
01
Executive decision memo
A recommendation by function, the assumptions that matter and the evidence still needed.
02
Location comparison
Costa Rica and credible alternatives evaluated on equivalent activities and requirements.
03
AI and workforce priorities
Use cases, implementation costs, skills and transition requirements considered together.
04
Action roadmap
A sequence of priorities, owners and decision points for the next twelve months.
Demand, customer qualification, yield, reliability and infrastructure determine whether an option is feasible. Advanced packaging is evaluated as a conditional pathway, not an automatic next step.
illustrative decision framework
A test-engineering and reliability function
An example of the questions and outputs an engagement can structure. It is not a client case or a calculated result.
Dimension | Question to resolve | Expected output |
Demand | Which customer need and technology family support the opportunity? | A defined requirement, separated from unconfirmed demand. |
Readiness | Are skills, tools, utilities and qualification requirements feasible? | A capability-gap assessment for each location. |
Economics | How do utilization, test time, ramp and AI costs affect the comparison? | Comparable scenarios with explicit downside conditions. |
Decision | What must be demonstrated before adding capacity? | A staged recommendation with go, defer or stop conditions. |
The analysis does not predict corporate relocation decisions or replace engineering qualification. Company-specific conclusions require current operating data and technical validation.
EVIDENCe & accountability
Know what supports the recommendation.
Each engagement separates public evidence, client-validated information and analytical assumptions. The decision memo makes the sources, uncertainties and conditions visible.
Country and industry research frames the opportunity. Sources and dates are checked for the specific question; general market evidence does not establish a company’s intent.
Costs, output, skills and operational requirements are reconciled with the relevant teams. Confidential inputs are requested only within an agreed scope and handling process.
Assumptions, sensitivities and evidence gaps remain explicit. Illustrative examples are not company estimates, validated forecasts or guarantees of performance.
engagement lead
Oswald Céspedes-Torres, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO · Leyden Consulting Group
An economist with a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, with specialization in industrial organization, international trade and economic development. Leyden brings economic analysis and quantitative research to the investment and capability questions at the center of this service.
The scope identifies the technical input and company participation required for each decision.
a clear path to engagement
Start with the question that matters.
01
Executive briefing
A 30–45 minute conversation to define the decision, the relevant functions, the decision-maker and the evidence needed.
02
Company diagnostic
A scoped paid engagement. An indicative four to six weeks, subject to complexity, data availability and agreement.
03
Strategic advisory
Further calibration, implementation planning or recurring analysis when the diagnostic supports that next step.
For the first conversation, share only the sector, the decision and your timeline. Confidential operating data are not needed to request a briefing.
Economic intelligence. Applied AI.
Better decisions.
© 2026 Leyden Consulting Group
Costa Rica · Latin America & the Caribbean
Since 1996