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Apple Supplier TSMC Delays Production of 4nm Chips at Arizona Factory Due to Skilled Worker Shortage
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Err... what?
Yes, unemployment is currently quite low in the US compared to historical rates of unemployment, which would align with what I had said. First, as I said, the pool of such workers is much smaller in North America than it is in Asia. Second, if the vast majority of them are already employed (since the unemployment rate is low), it makes it that much harder for TSMC to hire enough of them.
Well, one way around this is try to poach them from other companies, but that can get really expensive really quickly, and it also incurs legal and other risks.
Was this particular plant EVER slated to make 3nm? From the start I think it was mentioned, but then it was clarified that this wouldn’t be a “leading edge” plant. It seemed to me “backfill” plant, making valuable chips, yes, but they wouldn’t be producing the millions of processors a year that Apple would need. I think 3nm was always going to be at their main plants outside the US.
The headline is a bit misleading. It’s not yet a shortage of workers to manufacture the chips, but of people to construct the factory. The skill sets are demanding, but different.
A chip fab factory-- isthat a factory thst produces chip factoties, or did you infact ean chip fbtication plant or chip factory? Other than that your post brings up a valid point. PersonnalyI wouldn't wanr ri kive in arizone due to it beainga rather hhot plaze ( at least temperature wise j
And yes, because we aren’t graduating enough stem workers we can’t staff factories.
You are looking at current dilemma I’m looking at that and beyond.
Situation is bad now and will not get better if we don’t invest heavily in education. That is the only investment that lifts all boats.
Because TSMC wants their bleeding edge nodes to be produced in Taiwan. Note also that this FAB in Arizona is like a mini FAB (20,000 wafer starts a month) compared to the gigaFABs (100,000 wafer starts per month) they have in Taiwan
The fact that they can’t find staff for a small fab is embarrassing, but unsurprising. It is Arizona. I wouldn’t live there for 2x my salary.
The thing I don’t understand is why Arizona? The state is already running out of water, and chip fans use A LOT of water. It makes no long term sense. I suspect this will be another scam at the end of the day like the massive subsidies Foxconn just stole to set up an American plant that isn’t actually doing anything at all today.
Pay has nothing to do with it. People don't want to do the work REGARDLESS of pay. The vast majority of Americans don't want to do this kind of construction labor. A few yes, but not enough to develop massive factories.
This is a well known problem. Basically even the poorest homeless people in our economy today are living luxuriously compared to 50 years ago. As in, actual homeless people make more money panhandling today than a worker did 50 years ago.
I worked in fabs that had to be isolated from road traffic noise.
Just hope TSMC considers another plant in the UK, which would service Europe. TSMC need more plant outside of Taiwan to ensure that production can continue throughout the world should the worst happen in Taiwan.
Go make your own chip and make one for me too.
Rather a sad excuse in my opinion. The answer is to train up employees. Obviously there will be a skill shortage on a new plant producing new chips, even on the 4nm chips.
This would apply to any new plant, whether car manufacturer or chips.
So take employees and train them in the skills required.
This would apply to any new plant, whether car manufacturer or chips.
So take employees and train them in the skills required.
The difficulty isn't in staffing the fab...it's difficulty in building it properly. Read more closely.
Fact is, the US has long ago abandoned any encouragement for the trades in favor of a utopian world where a 4 year degree is a birthright (and should be free).
Also note the difference in the conversation about hiring "employees" vs hiring "workers." There's a difference, in my experience. Some people work. Others simply expect to be employed.
These are heavy automated fabs with robots, the jobs in question are not low end, they're quite high-end actually.
That’s a dumbass comment. They don’t make more inflation adjusted money than workers 50 years ago.
Where exactly is TSMC in the chip supply chain, ie. what exactly does it do; does anyone know?
They were just expecting the same inhumane worker conditions as in Asia. It’s about tI e the world stands up to these opp corporations.