It has been revealed that the yield rate of trial production at the first factory in Arizona of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC), a major contract semiconductor manufacturer, exceeded that of a similar factory in Taiwan. Initially, full operation of the plant was postponed due to a lack of workers, but this result marks a major development in the company’s expansion project in the United States.
Held on the 23rdOnline seminarAccording to participants, TSMC’s U.S. division president,rick cassidyHe said the percentage of usable semiconductors manufactured at TSMC’s Phoenix facility was about 4 percentage points higher than at a similar facility in Taiwan.
The yield rate is an important indicator in the semiconductor industry because it determines whether a company can cover the huge costs of semiconductor factories.
This result shows progress in the U.S. government’s efforts to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry. TSMC, a major semiconductor manufacturing partner for Nvidia and Apple, will receive $6.6 billion in grants and $5 billion in loans from the U.S. government, as well as a 25% investment, to build three factories in Arizona. Expected to receive tax deduction. These supports, along with other funding under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, have not yet been finalized.
A TSMC spokeswoman declined to comment directly on Cassidy’s seminar, but cited CEO Wei Zhejia’s comments on a conference call with investors last week.
“Our first factory started (trial) production of engineering wafers in April using 4 nanometer (nano = 1/1 billionth) process technology,” Wei said in a conference call. “We are very satisfied with the results. “The yield rate is also very good.” “This is an important operational milestone for TSMC and our customers and demonstrates TSMC’s manufacturing capabilities and execution capabilities.”
This progress in yield rate is noteworthy for TSMC. Until now, the company has maintained its most advanced and efficient factories in its home base of Taiwan. The company was unable to secure enough skilled workers to install the advanced equipment at its Arizona plant, and as a result, the company’s initial goal of starting full operation at its first plant was postponed from 2024 to 2025. Subsequently, the start of operation of the second factory was postponed from the original target of 2026 to 2027-28. This has raised concerns that TSMC will not be able to manufacture semiconductors in the United States as efficiently as it can in Taiwan.
Original title:TSMC Arizona Chip Yields Surpass Taiwan’s, a Win for US Push (1)(excerpt)
