Chris Miller, Professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, discusses the semiconductor supply chain, Intel's turnaround, TSMC's balance of secrecy and transparency, and the role of semiconductor manufacturing in peace and stability.
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Quick takeaways
The separation of design and manufacturing processes in chip manufacturing has led to greater efficiency and specialization, resulting in significant advancements in the industry.
Taiwan's strategic focus on semiconductors, particularly through the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), has allowed it to embed itself into US supply chains and become a leading player in chip manufacturing.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Chip Manufacturing: Design and Manufacturing Separation
The podcast discusses the evolution of chip manufacturing, focusing on the separation of design and manufacturing processes. In the early days, companies handled both design and manufacturing, but as chips became more complex, the benefits of splitting these processes became apparent. This led to companies specializing in design and others specializing in manufacturing. The separation allowed for greater efficiency and specialization, resulting in significant advancements in the industry.
Taiwan's Semiconductor Industry and TSMC's Strategic Positioning
The podcast explores Taiwan's focus on semiconductors, driven by its desire to provide employment opportunities, particularly during its transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Taiwan also sought to embed itself into the US supply chains and economy as a strategic move amid concerns about China. The establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) played a crucial role in this strategy, benefiting from government support and becoming a leading player in chip manufacturing.
The Challenges and Complexity of Chip Manufacturing
The podcast delves into the challenges and complexity of chip manufacturing. It highlights the level of precision and atom-level manipulation required to manufacture chips, which involves acquiring ultra-complex machines capable of working at the atomic scale. The cost and complexity involved make chip manufacturing highly specialized and limited to only a few companies globally. The podcast emphasizes that manufacturing billions of chips at a low cost, even at the size of a coronavirus and with perfect accuracy, is the key to the success of chip manufacturers.
Chips – the modern world runs on ‘em. But who are the players that bring these tiny technological wonders into existence?
Chris Miller is a Professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. Ricky Mulvey caught up with Miller to discuss:
The semiconductor supply chain
Intel’s turnaround and new focus on foundries
How TSMC balances secrecy, transparency, and trust when it comes to intellectual property