<PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 1997
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                                    IMP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                 94-2722142
   (State of incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              2830 N. FIRST STREET
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95134
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                             -----------------------

                                STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                             -----------------------

                             JAMES PHILLIP FERGUSON
                                    IMP, INC.
                              2830 N. FIRST STREET
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95134
                                 (408) 432-9100
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:
                                 Jeffrey Y. Suto
                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               2800 Sand Hill Road
                          Menlo Park, California 94025
                                 (650) 854-4488

                               Page 1 of 30 Pages
                             Exhibit Index on Page 7
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)


<PAGE>   2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Proposed      Proposed
                                                         Maximum        Maximum     
                                          Maximum        Offering      Aggregate     Amount of   
                                        Amount to be    Price Per      Offering     Registration 
Title of Securities to be Registered   Registered(1)      Share          Price          Fee      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>


  Common Stock issuable upon
  exercise of options granted          750,000 Shares  $1.24(2)(3)    $930,000      $281.82
  pursuant to the Stock Option Plan                    
  0.01 par value....................
  Options to purchase Common Stock
  (under the Stock Option Plan)        750,000 Shares  $ n/a          $ n/a         $ n/a
  0.01 par value....................


               TOTAL                   750,000 Shares  $1.24          $930,000      $281.82
               -----
</TABLE>


----------

(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plans being
        registered pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any
        stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
        transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results
        in an increase in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
        Common Stock.

(2)     Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
        (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the
        registration fee. Computation based on the weighted average per share
        exercise price (rounded to nearest cent) of outstanding options under
        the referenced plan, the shares issuable under which are registered
        hereby.

(3)     Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely
        for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The computation
        with respect to unissued options is based upon the average high and low
        sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
        Market on September 29, 1997.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.         INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

        (a)     The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 30, 1997 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which contains audited financial
statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such statements
have been filed.

        (b)     All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report
referred to in (a) above.

        (c)     The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act on May 13, 1987, as amended by Amendment
No. 1 filed June 30, 1987 and including any additional amendment or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.         DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.         INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.         INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation reduces the liability of a
director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for
breaches of his or her fiduciary duty of care to the fullest extent permissible
under Delaware law. The Bylaws of the Registrant further provide for
indemnification of corporate agents to the maximum extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, the Registrant has entered into
Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors.

Item 7.         EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.         EXHIBITS.

                Exhibit
                Number

                5.1     Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                        Corporation.

                23.1    Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
                        (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                23.2    Consent of Independent Auditors.

                24.1    Powers of Attorney.

                99.1    Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan

----------


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
Item 9.         UNDERTAKINGS.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1)     to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

        (2)     that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (3)     to remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the question has already been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                            [Signature Pages Follow]


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, IMP, Inc. a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on this 30th day
of September, 1997.

                                       IMP, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ James Phillip Ferguson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James Phillip Ferguson
                                            President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                            and Director.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints James Phillips Ferguson and George Rassam
jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file such amendments, together with
exhibits and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting to each attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he or she might or could do in
person, and ratifying and confirming all that the attorney-in-facts and agents,
or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Signature                             Title                         Date
           ---------                             -----                         ----

<S>                               <C>                                       <C> 
/s/ James Phillip Ferguson        President, Chief Executive and Director   September 30, 1997
-----------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)                                                              
James Phillip Ferguson                                    
                                    

/s/ George Rassam                 Chief Financial Officer (Principal        September 30, 1997
-----------------------------      Accounting Officer)                                                        
George Rassam                       

/s/ David A. Laws                 Chairman of the Board of Directors        September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
David A. Laws

/s/ Zri Grinfas                   Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Zri Grinfas

/s/ Peter D. Olson                Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Peter D. Olson

/s/ Bernard V. Vonderschmitt      Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Bernard V. Vonderschmitt
</TABLE>


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS                          


Exhibit
  No.
-------   
                                                            
   5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation       

   23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation       
                                                                           
            (included in Exhibit 5.1)

   23.2     Consent of Independent Auditors                                
                                                                           

   24.1     Powers of Attorney (See page number)                              
                                                                           
   99.1     Stock Option Plan
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15271}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IMP INC", "cik": "0000812927", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "942722142", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-36723", "film-number": "97688396"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2830 N FIRST ST", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134", "phone": "4084329100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2830 N FIRST STREET", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "INTERNATIONAL MICROELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 1997
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                                    IMP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                 94-2722142
   (State of incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              2830 N. FIRST STREET
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95134
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                             -----------------------

                                STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                             -----------------------

                             JAMES PHILLIP FERGUSON
                                    IMP, INC.
                              2830 N. FIRST STREET
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95134
                                 (408) 432-9100
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:
                                 Jeffrey Y. Suto
                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               2800 Sand Hill Road
                          Menlo Park, California 94025
                                 (650) 854-4488

                               Page 1 of 30 Pages
                             Exhibit Index on Page 7
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)
2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Proposed      Proposed
                                                         Maximum        Maximum     
                                          Maximum        Offering      Aggregate     Amount of   
                                        Amount to be    Price Per      Offering     Registration 
Title of Securities to be Registered   Registered(1)      Share          Price          Fee      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock issuable upon
  exercise of options granted          750,000 Shares  $1.24(2)(3)    $930,000      $281.82
  pursuant to the Stock Option Plan                    
  0.01 par value....................
  Options to purchase Common Stock
  (under the Stock Option Plan)        750,000 Shares  $ n/a          $ n/a         $ n/a
  0.01 par value....................

               TOTAL                   750,000 Shares  $1.24          $930,000      $281.82
               -----
----------

(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plans being
        registered pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any
        stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
        transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results
        in an increase in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
        Common Stock.

(2)     Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
        (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the
        registration fee. Computation based on the weighted average per share
        exercise price (rounded to nearest cent) of outstanding options under
        the referenced plan, the shares issuable under which are registered
        hereby.

(3)     Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely
        for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The computation
        with respect to unissued options is based upon the average high and low
        sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
        Market on September 29, 1997.

                                      -2-
3
                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.         INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

        (a)     The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 30, 1997 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which contains audited financial
statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such statements
have been filed.

        (b)     All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report
referred to in (a) above.

        (c)     The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act on May 13, 1987, as amended by Amendment
No. 1 filed June 30, 1987 and including any additional amendment or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.         DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.         INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.         INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation reduces the liability of a
director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for
breaches of his or her fiduciary duty of care to the fullest extent permissible
under Delaware law. The Bylaws of the Registrant further provide for
indemnification of corporate agents to the maximum extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, the Registrant has entered into
Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors.

Item 7.         EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.         EXHIBITS.

                Exhibit
                Number

                5.1     Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                        Corporation.

                23.1    Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
                        (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                23.2    Consent of Independent Auditors.

                24.1    Powers of Attorney.

                99.1    Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan

----------

                                      -3-
4
Item 9.         UNDERTAKINGS.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1)     to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

        (2)     that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

        (3)     to remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the question has already been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                      -4-
5
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, IMP, Inc. a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on this 30th day
of September, 1997.

                                       IMP, INC.

                                       By:  /s/ James Phillip Ferguson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James Phillip Ferguson
                                            President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                            and Director.

                                      -5-
6
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints James Phillips Ferguson and George Rassam
jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file such amendments, together with
exhibits and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting to each attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he or she might or could do in
person, and ratifying and confirming all that the attorney-in-facts and agents,
or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                             Title                         Date
           ---------                             -----                         ----
/s/ James Phillip Ferguson        President, Chief Executive and Director   September 30, 1997
-----------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)                                                              
James Phillip Ferguson                                    
                                    

/s/ George Rassam                 Chief Financial Officer (Principal        September 30, 1997
-----------------------------      Accounting Officer)                                                        
George Rassam                       

/s/ David A. Laws                 Chairman of the Board of Directors        September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
David A. Laws

/s/ Zri Grinfas                   Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Zri Grinfas

/s/ Peter D. Olson                Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Peter D. Olson

/s/ Bernard V. Vonderschmitt      Director                                  September 30, 1997
-----------------------------                                                              
Bernard V. Vonderschmitt
-6-
7
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS                          

Exhibit
  No.
-------   
                                                            
   5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation       

   23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation       
                                                                           
            (included in Exhibit 5.1)

   23.2     Consent of Independent Auditors                                
                                                                           

   24.1     Powers of Attorney (See page number)                              
                                                                           
   99.1     Stock Option Plan