Engineers at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are made to look for a rather interesting note inside machines to ensure that they are cleaning and inspecting the equipment properly, according to reports on social media. TSMC is the world's largest contract chip manufacturer and manufactures thousands of semiconductor wafers yearly. It also has the most advanced chip-making machines in the world, and these, along with other equipment, have to be regularly inspected to ensure that they are in working condition and so that any potential breakdowns can be caught earlier.
Equipment Officers at TSMC's Fab Ask Engineers To Find Note With "Bomb" Written On It During Inspections
Details of TSMC's machine inspection process were shared on Facebook in an anonymous post that was picked up by Taiwan's United Daily News (UDN). This post outlines the equipment inspection processes at TSMC, and reveals that engineers are instructed to find a note with the word 'bomb' written on it during the procedures. The person who posted the details did not like this and wondered if playing games inside TSMC's clean rooms were necessary.
These machine inspections are carried out for various reasons, including checking the equipment for acid and water leaks alongside other impurities. Chip manufacturing is a delicate process that requires high levels of purity, and manufacturers aim to catch any potential breakdowns before they take place. In response to the post, other purported TSMC engineers also confirmed that they had conducted similar inspections.
The process involves an equipment officer at the fab placing a note with the word 'bomb' written on it inside a machine. Then, engineers who inspect the machine are required to carefully inspect the machine and find the note. If they fail to do so, then they are penalized through a point based system.
Some employees also wondered if they should be rewarded for finding the note. One asked if they should be awarded an honorary leave as a reward and that the entire exercise made it appear as if TSMC's employees were serving in the military.
Others also criticized the management and senior engineers for playing 'games' on the fab floor. They quipped that the officials themselves sit idle, and when they feel that no one is working or that the manufacturing line is slowing down, they start the 'theatrics.' However, this viewpoint was met with criticism by senior employees who pointed out the benefits of the exercise.
They believe that the sole purpose of the exercise is to keep employees on their toes and ensure that the machines are thoroughly inspected. A potential breakdown at TSMC carries the risk of millions of dollars in lost output, and the old guard believes that engineers should be vigilant in their roles and not just leave the fab after signing their names.
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