By Neil Tyler
Microchip Technology is expanding its on-going partnership with TSMC, the semiconductor foundry, enabling the setting up of specialised 40nm manufacturing capacity at Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM).
JASM is TSMC’s majority-owned manufacturing subsidiary in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan and this partnership is part of Microchip’s ongoing strategy of building greater resiliency into its supply chain.
Other initiatives include investing in additional technology to boost internal manufacturing capabilities and capacity, as well as establishing more geographical diversity and redundancy with wafer fab, foundry, assembly, test and OSAT partners.
“Microchip’s reputation for providing responsible and reliable supply management is enhanced with this new TSMC manufacturing path,” said Michael Finley, Microchip senior vice president of worldwide manufacturing and technology. “Customers can have confidence when designing our products into their applications and platforms, with the support of resilient and robust manufacturing capabilities.”
The wafer capacity supply from JASM will further strengthen Microchip’s ability to serve a broad base of global customers in a variety of markets including automotive, industrial and networking applications.
“This initiative with Microchip is further proof of TSMC’s commitment to supporting our customers’ long-term growth and innovation,” said senior vice president of business management at TSMC North America Rose Castanares. “Our expanded collaboration with Microchip will ensure that as leading technologies continue to develop, so will our collective ability to manufacture and deliver those capabilities to global customers when they are needed.”
The TSMC partnership and JASM capacity is intended to ensure greater assurance in terms of manufacturing and will help to reduce the threat to Microchip from future supply chain disruption by offsetting external factors such as changing business conditions and natural disasters.
