TSMC sends more Taiwanese workers to finish Arizona plant

Apple's processor supplier TSMC says that to ensure a "fast ramp up" of its new Arizona Factory, it is sending more workers from Taiwan for this "critical phase."

Even as TSMC objects to conditions imposed by the US — it effectively has to pay tax twice — it is continuing to invest in Arizona. The first chip fabrication plant there is due to open in 2024, and now the company says it needs the skilled expertise of more Taiwanese staff.

According to Reuters, the company has announced the move, but not yet said how many workers are involved. It has said that the extra Taiwanese staff will only be in Arizona for a limited time.

"Given we are now in a critical phase handling all of the most advanced and dedicated equipment in a sophisticated facility, we require skilled expertise," the company told Reuters.

TSMC did also say that the new workers are not replacing any of the current 12,000 employees, nor will this change its US recruitment plans.

Previously, TSMC engineers in Taiwan have complained that Americans don't work hard enough, and "are the most difficult to manage."

11 Comments

foregoneconclusion 2835 comments · 12 Years

About 1 year ago

Water...water is the problem for fabrication plants in Arizona, not workers.

ApplePoor 302 comments · 5 Years

They should have placed this plant near an ocean cost and built a desalt plant for ocean water.

robin huber 4025 comments · 22 Years

Thank god they are moving in the right direction.

larryjw 1036 comments · 9 Years

JP234 said:

Previously, TSMC engineers in Taiwan have complained that Americans don't work hard enough, and "are the most difficult to manage."

So did anyone else see the documentary film "American Factory?" Same scenario except the company is run by a PRC businessman who buys a closed GM plant in Ohio, and makes auto glass. He hires Americans laid off by GM, saving the town from economic death, but wages are half what they made before they made nothing. He had the same complaints, and add in unionization efforts, when American workers are expected to work extra hours without pay. And of course the bosses are all Chinese and have the same racist tendencies as the Americans who work for them.

But apparently they've reached accord, or at least detente, since Fuyao Glass America is still operating there.
https://fuyaousa.com

The movie was interesting. As regards to racist tendencies I noticed typical management ignorance. The Americans had a much harder time working near the furnaces, That's not laziness but basic physics/biology. The Americans are substantially larger than their Chinese counterparts. Large animals cannot dissipate heat as efficiently as small animals -- elephants have big ears for a reason. The larger American men working near the ovens simply dissipate the heat of the furnaces as well as Chinese workers.

Wouldn't it be nice, and surprising if managers actually had some basic knowledge?

waveparticle 1497 comments · 3 Years

larryjw said:

JP234 said:

Previously, TSMC engineers in Taiwan have complained that Americans don't work hard enough, and "are the most difficult to manage."

So did anyone else see the documentary film "American Factory?" Same scenario except the company is run by a PRC businessman who buys a closed GM plant in Ohio, and makes auto glass. He hires Americans laid off by GM, saving the town from economic death, but wages are half what they made before they made nothing. He had the same complaints, and add in unionization efforts, when American workers are expected to work extra hours without pay. And of course the bosses are all Chinese and have the same racist tendencies as the Americans who work for them.

But apparently they've reached accord, or at least detente, since Fuyao Glass America is still operating there.
https://fuyaousa.com

The movie was interesting. As regards to racist tendencies I noticed typical management ignorance. The Americans had a much harder time working near the furnaces, That's not laziness but basic physics/biology. The Americans are substantially larger than their Chinese counterparts. Large animals cannot dissipate heat as efficiently as small animals -- elephants have big ears for a reason. The larger American men working near the ovens simply dissipate the heat of the furnaces as well as Chinese workers.

Wouldn't it be nice, and surprising if managers actually had some basic knowledge?

I heard this first time from you. This is basic knowledge?