TSMC manufactures advanced chips designed by many leading technology companies.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry. Unlike an integrated device manufacturer that designs and manufactures its own branded processors, TSMC primarily produces chips designed by other companies. This business model made it a crucial supplier to smartphone, computer, automotive, and artificial-intelligence industries.
TSMC was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang with government support and assistance from Philips. Its foundry model helped separate chip design from chip manufacturing, allowing smaller or specialized designers to use advanced production facilities without building their own fabs.
TSMC has become one of the world’s most valuable listed companies because demand for advanced logic chips is enormous. It manufactures products for customers including Apple, AMD, and Nvidia, although customer relationships and production arrangements can change. TSMC’s major operations remain centered in Taiwan, with additional facilities planned or operating overseas.