**The Nikkei Asia review reported that TSMC is building a US $12billion chip manufacturing plant in Arizona, but the current progress does not seem to be smooth** According to the existing plan, the plant is planned to be put into operation in 2024 and use 7Nm nodes to manufacture semiconductor products. However, the shortage of high-end talents and overseas key supply chain ecology is causing huge obstacles to the chip foundry giant - especially when competitor Intel also spent $20billion to accelerate its expansion in the state.
TSMC Nanjing plant (TSMC official website | via Gaode ) The
As semiconductors have become a major focus of the global economy, the chip supply chain tension caused by the epidemic has disrupted the development planning of automobile manufacturing and other related industries.
At the same time, chip manufacturers also suffer from being hit by a large number of orders, but lack of engineers who can operate complex chip manufacturing equipment, as well as technicians who need to carry out heavy work and go around.
As the largest competitor of TSMC in the U.S. market, Intel has accumulated for decades in the local market and operates one of its largest factories in Arizona.
As part of the $20billion expansion plan, Intel also cautiously announced the establishment of a partnership with the academic community to alleviate concerns about the talent gap.
Intel Fab 42 / ocotillo Park (from Intel newsroom ) The
At present, blue factory has become one of the first choice employers for graduates of Arizona State University. In addition to the strong ecosystem operated by this technology giant for a long time, TSMC will obviously encounter great challenges in the construction and operation of chip factories in the United States.
In the face of Intel, which is fighting at home, TSMC had to try to recruit talents from other regions. Although this is not the first time we have heard of similar rumors, according to the source interviewed, the factory is indeed trying to bring in people from Taiwan, China.
However, the differences in corporate culture between North America and Asia will also be another test for TSMC. For example, Asian employees are used to demanding job requirements such as 24/7 standby, which may be difficult for employees in the United States to copy.
In addition, the 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.
Moreover, the wage level in Taiwan, China is only about half of that in the U.S. market, and there is no doubt that setting up factories in the United States will add a lot of chip manufacturing costs.