Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is best known by the four-letter abbreviation TSMC.
TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, meaning it manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than primarily selling chips under its own consumer brand. This business model became highly influential because customers could outsource production while concentrating on chip architecture and design.
The company was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang. Its operations include advanced manufacturing processes used for processors, graphics chips, communications hardware, and other integrated circuits. TSMC’s customers have included leading technology companies, making its manufacturing capacity strategically important to the global electronics industry.
TSMC’s shares trade in Taiwan, while American depositary receipts trade in the United States under the symbol TSM. TSMC should not be confused with Taiwan’s stock exchange abbreviation or with consumer technology brands that design chips but do not manufacture them in their own facilities.