Nikkei Asia Review reported that TSMC is building a new chip manufacturing plant worth $12 billion in Arizona, USA, but the current progress seems to be not going well. According to the existing plan, the factory is scheduled to be operational in 2024 and use a 7nm node to manufacture semiconductor products. However, the shortage of high-end talents and key overseas supply chain ecosystems is creating huge obstacles to the chip foundry giant — especially as competitor Intel also spent $20 billion to accelerate expansion in the state.
TSMC Nanjing Factory (TSMC official website | via Gaode)
As semiconductor has become a major focus of global economy , the tension in chip supply chain caused by the epidemic has disrupted the development plans of related industries such as automobile manufacturing.
At the same time, chip manufacturers are also suffering from being hit by a large number of orders, but lack engineers who can operate complex chip manufacturing equipment, and technicians who need to carry out heavy work and run around.
As TSMC's largest competitor in the US market, Intel has accumulated decades of accumulation in the local market and operates one of its largest factories in , Arizona .
As part of the $20 billion expansion plan, Intel has also cautiously announced a partnership with the academia to alleviate the concerns of the talent gap.
Intel Fab 42 / Ocotillo Park (Photo from: Intel Newsroom)
Currently, the blue factory is one of the top preferred employers for Arizona State University graduates. In addition to the strong ecosystem that this technology giant has long operated, TSMC will obviously face huge challenges in the construction and operation of chip factories in the United States.
In front of Intel, which is fighting locally, TSMC has to try to recruit talents from other regions. Although this is not the first time we have heard of similar rumors, the factory is indeed trying to bring in staff from Taiwan, China, according to sources interviewed.
However, the differences in corporate culture between North America and Asia will also be another test facing TSMC. For example, Asian employees are used to strict work requirements such as 24/7 standby, and it may be difficult for employees in the United States to copy this.
In addition, Nikkei Asia Review believes that TSMC's lack of popularity in the United States has also affected the company's ability to attract skilled technicians to a certain extent.
What's more, the salary level in Taiwan is only about half of that in the US market. Setting up a factory in the US will undoubtedly increase the cost of chip manufacturing.
