Intel's foundry future depends on securing a customer for next-gen chipmaking tech

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Intel warned investors on Thursday that it may have to get out of the chip manufacturing business if it does not land external customers to make chips in its factories. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan said on Thursday the company's engineers were busy working with customers to jump-start its next-generation contract manufacturing process, or foundry, as the company announced big layoffs alongside a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss outlook. Those customers for the company's so-called 14A manufacturing process are crucial to the success of the technology - so much so that if it fails to secure a big one, it could shut down its cutting-edge manufacturing business altogether, according to Intel's quarterly filing on Thursday.