TSMC's Fab 21 in Arizona experienced a production disruption in late September, caused by a power outage at a key supplier, the British industrial gas giant Linde. While the fab itself, equipped with backup generators, did not lose power, the outage halted the supply of critical production materials, forcing a several-hour shutdown and resulting in the scrapping of some wafers.
TSMC has confirmed the incident occurred but has not disclosed specific financial losses or the number of wafers affected. This event highlights the different supply chain management models TSMC employs. Unlike in Taiwan, where it has direct control over key utilities, the US operation relies more on outsourcing, potentially increasing vulnerability to external risks.
Industry analysts suggest that while such disruptions are costly, this early exposure of a operational weakness provides a valuable opportunity for TSMC to strengthen its supply chain resilience for the future phases of the Fab 21 complex.
ICgoodFind: This incident underscores the critical importance of end-to-end supply chain security for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, especially in overseas expansions.
