The crisis in Japan already has had an impact on the high-tech industry. Earlier this week, the research firm IHS iSuppli reported that the disaster was causing a , used to make computer chips.

"Because of this, the suspension of operations at these plants could have wide-ranging implications beyond the Japanese electronics industry," iSuppli noted in its report.

But work is beginning again.

The Japan-based hardware company Fujitsu, for example, has stopped production at three semiconductor manufacturing plants, but it has partially resumed operation at four other damaged facilities, including a PC manufacturing plant, a semiconductor fab and a semiconductor testing facility.

The company also has two facilities, including a mobile phone manufacturing plant, in full operation.