TSMC manufactures the Apple-designed M-series chips used in Macs.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, commonly abbreviated TSMC, is a semiconductor foundry. A foundry manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than selling a competing general-purpose processor brand as its main business. Apple designs its M-series system-on-chip products, while TSMC fabricates them under contract.
Apple introduced the first M1 chip in 2020 in a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. The M1 was part of Apple's transition away from Intel processors in Mac computers. Later M-series generations expanded the architecture across laptops, desktops, and professional systems.
The arrangement illustrates the difference between chip design and chip manufacturing. Apple is responsible for the M-series architecture and product integration; TSMC operates the semiconductor manufacturing process. TSMC was founded in Taiwan in 1987 by Morris Chang.