Taiwan’s TSMC will continue to face labor shortages for its first U.S. plant in Arizona. The 5-nanometer wafer plant was originally scheduled to begin operations this year, but after a series of setbacks, full production has been pushed back to 2025. We’ve already written about the U.S. labor shortages, which came as something of a surprise to TSMC. And judging by new press reports, the situation hasn’t improved much yet.
Asian and American work cultures are very different. And TSMC managers are trying to operate in the old ways in a new territory. This means 12-hour workdays and emergency calls at any time of the day. It is known that in Taiwan, all this is accompanied by strict punishments for those who do not fit into the work schedule. But American engineers and workers are not ready for such conditions, so many of them quit, unable to withstand the high demands and arrogant attitude of the management. Currently, the company already has 2.2 thousand employees, half of whom came from Taiwan. But according to plans, they plan to attract up to 6 thousand employees in total. TSMC is trying to actively fill vacancies with local personnel in order to reduce dependence on visiting specialists.
Nearby universities and colleges are seriously expanding their programs in electrical engineering and other related fields. TSMC actively cooperates with educational institutions, offering internships and various joint programs. To help cope with the cultural conflict, TSMC sends American employees to Taiwan, where they can get acquainted with the Taiwanese way of life. At the same time, the company conducts training for its managers to teach them softer communication methods.
Source:
Tom’s Hardware
