TSMC manufactures many of the world's advanced computer chips for other companies.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, commonly called TSMC, pioneered the dedicated semiconductor foundry model. Instead of designing and selling its own branded processors as its main business, TSMC manufactures chips designed by customers such as Apple, Nvidia, and AMD.
Morris Chang founded TSMC in Taiwan in 1987. The company’s approach allowed chip designers to avoid the enormous cost of building and operating their own fabrication plants. This separation between chip design and manufacturing helped expand the modern semiconductor industry.
TSMC is often confused with a chip designer or with ASML, the Dutch company that makes advanced lithography equipment. TSMC fabricates wafers; its customers create many of the designs, while equipment suppliers provide the machines used in production. The company’s manufacturing scale and process technology made it one of the most valuable companies in the world.