Why the Global Chip Shortage Is Hard to Overcome | WSJ

A global chip shortage is affecting how quickly we can drive a car off the lot or buy a new laptop. WSJ visits a fabrication plant in Singapore to see the complex process of chip making and how one manufacturer is trying to overcome the shortage. Photo: Edwin Cheng for The Wall Street Journal
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#WSJ #Chips #Computing

[@MotorCityPhoenix313]

What impresses me even more than the creation of the chips, is that a group of brilliant people had to figure out every piece of equipment needed to manufacture them on a mass scale.

[@danielwinters8545]

It blows my mind sitting here just imagining someone coming up with this process. I know it is years of advancements little by little but man this is amazing. It's like we reverse engineered some alien technology lol. There really are some brilliant people out there.

[@luisantonioduarteah-hoy9663]

@@danielwinters8545 , agreed. Absolutely mind-boggling.

[@Chu3505]

@@danielwinters8545 Hey the Silicon Semiconductor computers CPUs and GPUs chips are having been in continuously updated in newer versions of technologies and advancements in designed and redesigned in many countries in decades to almost a century seen in the 60s by human technologies advancements until now.The Silicon Semiconductor chip are continually having in been for many brilliant engineers,computers scientists with softwares and hardwares in technologies advancements in scientific redesigned and in continuously in developmental in newer technologies advancements for the last 50-60 years or more by human technologies advancements.

[@kevinkanter2537]

@Nelson Swanberg yep & ASML also in the news constantly - with others in the ecosystem: Lam Research (LRCX), Tokyo Electron (OTC:TOEL.Y), KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) w/ AMHS systems Murat, Daifuku & Asyst

[@nathanielpatterson6963]

@@danielwinters8545 We did.

[@mcaddie7]

I'm an engineer in this industry. Getting one tool takes 1-2 years, get it set up takes months, then to get a process qualified to be used on the tool takes months to a year, and then to actual make the wafer can take 6 weeks to 6 months where I work. This is a very intricate industry.

[@techmana4257]

seems like a Y2K like self created dooms day? kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpTGd2R9mKt-j7s

[@HDGaminTutorials]

Am so happy for amazing smart people like you I could not do it but I respect you so much for giving us chips!!!!

[@deckard5pegasus673]

So if it takes so long to make small incremental improvements how do we go from not having ICs to having them everywhere? Seems a little strange to say the least...

[@arconte2100]

I heard a good quote from an expert: "The chips are the most complicated items mankind is capable of producing" There are thousands of steps in the process of making a high end computer chip and many of these steps are only done by 1 or 2 companies. It's an amazing achievement but does lead to some problems with scaling up production.

[@ALC0LITE]

I would say that is correct, save for the results of procreation. We, as mankind, haven't produced anything near as complex as another human lifeform (babies). That being said, AMD are producing CPUs with transistors closer together than 7nm, so it's only matter of time. IBM made a 2nm chip

[@rodanone4895]

maybe. but scalability isn't the issue here. this is all about profit maximization by offshoring product... we did make ICs in the US FIRST.

[@mohammedabdulmusawir4480]

All thanks to bob noyce and gordon moore this weird world exists today.

[@mohammedabdulmusawir4480]

@@ALC0LITE you’re spot on ,it is a matter of time,intel as we know is going dead.

[@rodanone4895]

@@mohammedabdulmusawir4480 at least a bunch. don't forget schockley, bardeen, brattain and team! 1948 started it all... as Newton is credited... if I have seen further than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants...

[@soumyojitpal3399]

I extend my deepest admiration and thank you to all the scientists and engineers who made these chips and semiconductors, which revolutionized our lives. RESPECT.

[@SI-ln6tc]

They were helped by aliens.

[@athul_c1375]

@@SI-ln6tc have you ever heard of okams razor

[@Talia.777]

@@athul_c1375 please explain?!

[@athul_c1375]

@@Talia.777 the simplest explanation is usually the best one. In this case simplest explanation is humans made semiconductors rather than given by aliens

[@kevinclass2010]

@@athul_c1375 very good at keeping a clean shave. Available at CVS

[@brandob9]

Some details that would add a lot more context from an ex-industry person: 1) Speaking in the term 'chips' isn't helpful as it implies that they are substitutable goods. They aren't, every one tends to have a unique purpose, and even your phone will have 15-20 major chips. These are re-designed with basically every refresh of the phone design. This means that a CPU meant to run a BMW very likely won't work in a Honda. They're all somewhat custom. 2) The lead time for the lithography masks is in the 6-12 week range. 3) The total WIP time for a wafer is in the 6 week range. 4) The lead time to order the tools shown in the fab is 1-2 years, and the installation time for each tool can be months. 5) Combining factors 2-4 mean that a customer can't call up a fab and just ask for more of their chips. The production systems, because of the precision and purity requirements, just can't turn that fast.

[@jfo738]

Um yeah, that's exactly what this video explained.

[@hydrolifetech7911]

@@jfo738 not as adequately as this person's comment did

[@TimothyNeu1986]

Random question. Why don't we just standardize the chip architectures? If the custom chips do the same function for different products then wouldn't it make sense to standardize the industry? I'm not exactly smart when it comes to hardware manufacturing.

[@brandob9]

@@TimothyNeu1986 Different circuits for different problems. They are inherently problem solving machines, and each is tuned to a different problem.

[@musaran2]

Also, production machines obsolete fast. AFAIK the industry will not build capacity if selling production is not a sure thing.

[@mucci6954]

It always amazes me the tech that humanity has accomplished, and that I will never truly understand it despite using it daily

[@AkumaNoKuma]

dum

[@johannes7434]

I find fascinating that for example things like a smartphone or even camera can not be understood by one human alone. It takes giant companies with hundreds or thousands of engineers to just produce a single component, let alone the whole thing. It's like swarm intelligence, where the group is far more intelligent than a single entity

[@mucci6954]

@@johannes7434 yeah it seems like the best you can do is specialize, the measure of collective human knowledge is mind boggling

[@earumamaadu]

Stupid people like you get all the eletronics but many smart people cant get them

[@anotherpolo1143]

Believe in yourself and you might be able to understand it one day

[@TheDecree93]

Supply chains are fascinating, good vid

[@tanner882]

Dang man.....if only it was possible to build a vehicle without computer chips. Like a manual or mechanical way to operate the engine 🤔

[@huckleberryfinn6578]

@@tanner882 Good luck bringing cars to market that meet the emissions standards of Western industrialized countries without computer chips.

[@malachaiuys711]

It's actually quite scary we can be sent to a lower age just by the collapse of these few plants.

[@Harbour122]

I know right. They probably (hopefully) got some ultra strict security on site. Both cyber and physical securities.

[@malachaiuys711]

@@Harbour122 yeah but I think the safest option is just for the technology to become more common

[@kazedcat]

There are actually a lot of this plants they are just owned by a few companies. For example Global Foundries have a plant in Germany a plant in Singapore and a plant in New York. The reason why there are only a few companies is because as the technology becomes more advance running the plant and the equipments become more expensive. So the more successful companies buy out those who are struggling. Their factories are still operating but the owner is now a bigger company and are operating several factories that they bought out.

[@sten260]

@Brandon G dude without profit incentive nobody ever would have done any of this. These private companies trying to make money, why would anyone start a production plant if it wasn't for the money?

[@TactileCoder]

Not really. We can always revert to larger or older fabrication methods that can be spun up

[@saavedra909]

So a sabotage on this factories can cripple a lot of the most important industries worldwide? That idea is quite scary and a potential scenario!

[@barnabyjones6995]

@Cypher Labour rate is too high to be competive.

[@mirroredvoid8394]

@Cypher United states tried to get new fabs built, but the companies refused even with money offered.

[@DarkPa1adin]

Just bomb TSMC, but will see Apple, AMD collapse

[@DarkPa1adin]

@@mirroredvoid8394 probably due to tax issues

[@Skyhanger]

@@mirroredvoid8394 TMSC already agreed to build a fab in Arizona, but it takes 5 years to bring it online.

[@sanka2000]

ASML is the company to watch. Most advanced and high tech euv machines.

[@mattstirling7494]

All this talk of chips and wafers got me hungry.

[@steve0826]

LOL

[@GameC3nt]

🤣🤣🤣

[@InTheCircl]

Good that there's no shortage for that

[@rick_terscale1111]

all we need is the dips... :D

[@PK-eo8kp]

@@rick_terscale1111 The dips = the economy/chip shortage

[@mdjak3686]

Incredible how smart these folks are.

[@justpassingby7262]

And on the other end of the spectrum we have politicians. This pisses me off the most.

[@DrFarisArab]

Thank you for this..I wish it was more detailed cause this kindda info is scarce..thumbs 🆙

[@havanowoncheese]

Check out something like Tom's hardware as an example. The publications that are centered around PC hardware have really kept up on great reporting on chip shortages and what is going on with the fabs. Tech Power up, Tweak Town are a couple of good ones too. It is shocking how little attention the mainstream press has given these issues.

[@Tential1]

Gamersnexus anandtech.

[@havanowoncheese]

@@Tential1 how could I forget GN with Tech Jesus and Anandtech? I hang my head in sha,e.

[@celica9098]

Here's a really good detailed report from Bloomberg: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYbJm6eBqdCGaLc

[@shazmosushi]

Checkout the channel Asianometry. Maybe start with "The Coming Semiconductor Bust"

[@icy6005]

I’m watching this after my overtime in semiconductor company, this is indeed an intricate process and pushing for yield improvement is a challenge for us every single day. Glad you find the whole process amazing though.

[@RiderZer0]

How people even figured out how to make semi conductors at nm sizes or how to process information through it is both insane and amazing.

[@rusitoexplorador]

This video just showed how backwards my country is. While my country and it's politicians only talk about commodities, I am looking at this extremely high tech factories. It is like living in two different planets

[@vonbalt4891]

Backwards is being generous to my country aswell, we still have barely no industry and that race is a couple hundred years old now. The only thing keeping our barely functional economy afloat is selling raw materials, soy and beef to China while most of our people barely scrap enough to keep alive and our politicians only know how to steal from us.

[@malabar7968]

Let me guess, Argentina?

[@drewh3224]

Which countries are you guys from? Now dont be chicken again!

[@vonbalt4891]

@@drewh3224 Brazil, things were bad before the pandemic, now we are like one step from Mad Max levels of fuckedupness.

[@doctorwilly]

Don’t feel bad. The semiconductor foundry industry only seems to have one long term winner. Global foundries bled money year after year until maybe recently. The game is tough and there is no prize for participation, but punishments.

[@satriaamiluhur622]

I'm glad that there's plenty of cheap repair shops in indonesia. I have been using the same samsung galaxy and lenovo laptop for 6 years, and the same PS4 for 7 years. With very little degrade in performance

[@fairylaw9765]

Woow, i have never imagined that the production process takes so long!

[@squitzy]

I worked in the industry for 35 years, retiring 5 years ago. I started with the state of the art lithography system company at the time, Perkin-Elmer and finished my career with the present state of the art lithography system company ASML. I met some incredibly brilliant engineers who could easily make my head spin and realize I was merely a dope and they were gods from another galaxy! I installed and maintained these systems around the world. What is better than to see the world on expenses? Thanks to so many geniuses for never failing to enlighten me and giving me a wonderful career.

[@kevinkanter2537]

while i think you are a little too humble --- there is a lot of engineering for operations / maintainability but there is definitely not the mentaity that a tool / process is engineered by geniuses to be run by idiots (ROTFL) - i agree that some of the materials scientists and engineers I met at Intel & Applied Materials were intellectually mind-boggling. I just supported MES & EC software integration in the fabs for 27 years. Lots of stimulating work & travel around the world.

[@mediumpimpn]

I just wired 25M worth of new machines at one of their core suppliers plant. It's getting better sooner than later

[@muhammadfanriadho5337]

one of my business rely on Atmel and Broadcom chip, i'm so worry about the global chip shortages

[@rmukhfloyd]

Very informative. Loved the content.

[@INSANEDOMINANCE]

Thank you for making this video!

[@navidfarkhondehpay1142]

Almost at 3 million subscribers! Congratulations :)

[@typoriver3651]

Bad time for me to start building a computer

[@kevinkanter2537]

not really - i integrated a mb w/ some networked SOCs - of course, it is NOT a laptop .... ROTFL

[@lil----lil]

Correction: The ASML 7nm machine costs a cool $150 million dollars. So between 25m to 150m.

[@InTheCircl]

And who are you?

[@jimmurphy6095]

And the 3nm machines are ???? $200 million?

[@Zymonn]

and also a big problem is, for them to make more machines,,, they also need more machines. that are also highly complex. and you need a insanely smart additional workforce

[@barneylinux]

@@jimmurphy6095 not for sale probably

[@johnchen6783]

The most expensive asml tool is EUV, used between 7 to 3nm in tsmc. GF didn’t need EUV,because they already surrendered to develop more advanced node. And Even you can buy all the tools, it still depends how you use it.

[@doncosner2611]

I never knew just how complex this process was!

[@fixedguitar47]

I’ve been laid off due to this issue. Just got back to work today and this shows up in my recommended.

[@oscarp9336]

Keep up the good work.... I need a PS5 already

[@ThaTruFily]

Need LOL

[@ThaTruFily]

@JMB Games are expensive af, and the quality of most is not ideal, or they got a brilliant port for current gen/pc. Plus the old games didn't age badly at all, considering where the industry is right now.

[@oscarp9336]

@JMB that's what I figured... I want one but I can wait.

[@ThaTruFily]

@@Darenz-cg9zg They used to do that with the Nascar series on Ps3, EA of course. At least most games were complete at that time even from them. And I do the same, no Ps4, no original games on Pc if not Steam or old games for ps1/2/3.

[@JV-ll1cu]

I need Xbox Series X

[@johnditoro1676]

I am a retired chip engineer. Until recently, when I would tell people that I made chips, the most common response was "Oh, so you worked for Frito Lays?"

[@DannyOvox3]

lol and then your response is "No, the type of chip that is considered to be the most complex item mankind has invented"

[@pilot777300ER]

I worked in a semiconductor industry in Singapore for 4 years. It was nice to see again where I started my career then I switched to Aviation.

[@owenchuarbx]

As a fellow EEE guy in Singapore. I offer my salutes to these workers

[@berlinluv9068]

its process is extremely intricate to mass-produce. And the yield rate the foundry can reach is another critical factor for fabless, e.g. Apple, AMD...etc, to consider when choose subcontractors.

[@Felinius]

I’ve been laid off for almost two months because of this. It sucks.

[@rosemansbrests]

Really? We are about to get hammered AF with work...

[@picklerix6162]

The same people that were canceling chip orders and laying off employees are now complaining about lack of chips and lack of engineers and developers.

[@codycast]

Are you in the US? 6 million unfilled job openings

[@codycast]

@@combatepistemologist8382 no idea. But I can say “not all” as were looking for property managers. Which doesn’t take any specific schooling or much previous work history and our managers are paid $25-40/hr

[@Felinius]

@@Zagura90 UAW 182 here. First they laid off all the temps, then they laid off whole shifts.

[@thisoldbelair]

Amazing and sobering how complex this technology is.

[@chris7921]

Chip making seems like rocket science to me, I’ll never understand it but I can appreciate its brilliance and the minds behind these creations. Utterly amazing

[@NONE2NONE]

The chip room looks like like how they color grade Mexico in movies.

[@1.8millionvolts87]

Bruh

[@nobodynothingberg4886]

Warm yellow sun

[@monstertrucks9357]

It's true 😂 why do they always do that to Mexico? lol

[@nebtheweb8885]

@@monstertrucks9357 The lights have to be that color due to the light sensitivity of the lithography process. In other parts of the fab the lighting is normal.

[@juckey2730]

Or every single FPS game between 2005-2010.

[@tehpwnerer7]

1:02 This hurts my ocd and heart seeing a intel CPU upside down and on a angle on top of the motherboard CPU pins

[@danw3735]

Great insight, thanks.

[@calvinhobbes7504]

Wonderful piece, thank you, WSJ!! It is an incredibly expensive venture to set up a semiconductor fab from the ground up ... the few US fabs still operating are woefully inadequate for the job and cannot compete economically with those in the Far East. So although the US is one of the largest consumers of "chips", we're not very good at helping to shore up the gap in production.

[@omsingharjit]

Now finally I can understand what the whole matter is !!

[@milky3ay566]

This shortage is so bad that I am forced to write code such that it is microcontroller independent. It's crazy

[@aatkarelse8218]

Mmm now that is an interesting piece of info, thx !

[@milky3ay566]

@@Darenz-cg9zg There are many things, but let me pick a GPIO as an example. For a quick turn around firmware design with a microcontroller, u can directly access GPIO address space by using *(uint32_t*)0x410003CF |= (1

[@milky3ay566]

So yeah, the best design practice is to separate the Application Layer from the Hardware layer, so if the hardware changed, u only need to rewrite the hardware layer and left the application layer barely touched. But who's got the time?

[@ablasttv]

@@milky3ay566 Lucky for me as a web/mobile developer there are thousands of abstraction tools at my disposal where I don't have to think about the underlying hardware. I use ORMs to access my databases, runtimes like Nodejs and The browser DOM that provide a large standard api for the environment. It's kinda crazy that hardware developers haven't really don't this yet for their work. Do you always start from scratch every new device? I would think it would be a worthwhile investment of any company to build a standard API for the type of work you use. I have a whole generated starter project I use for every new backend API project I start that includes user auth and permissions and basic things that are needed for every project. Spend the time doing it once so you don't have to do it every time, its totally worth it.

[@Z0DI4C]

@@milky3ay566 Pin mapping is an abstraction layer that your codebase probably really should have had to begin with. Things like architecture/instruction set, word alignment, and toolchains are where the complexity is warranted.

[@Q8Patriot]

Well explained, thanks

[@ravik7417]

Great content as always 👍 WSJ

[@realBeltalowda]

4:39 for the lay here; it’s “transistors”, not “transitors”. These are very very small switches that can be turned on or off to represent a 1 (on) or a 0 (off).

[@garrettk7166]

Thank you! I heard that and questioned whether that was the correct word. Glad to see your correction.

[@frankmorreale6433]

My toilet wouldn't flush because it was sold to me without "the chip"

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@fpg213263fu]

I work in a Wafer fab in Texas. It's still amaze me on the process.

[@elijahflynt3217]

this video makes me think a lot about luxury and of course privileges that the modern lifestyle affords for many of us. its sort of entertaining to think about.......

[@elijahflynt3217]

kind of a like a necessary evil... or blessing. not everyone can afford these mind you.

[@Coconutlacroix]

Even more entertaining to think about how a solar flare or EMP could wipe all these modern conveniences out in an instant.

[@j0n175]

Thinness of a DNA STRAND 🤯 the amount of brilliance it takes to create a lithography machine is alien

[@Why_U_Geh]

maybe it is alien

[@gersonadr2]

Very informative! Thanks WSJ

[@thegerm574]

Global Foundries use to have a plant in Fishkill, NY. It closed around 10 years ago.

[@jimjacobson4797]

This clip has added some context to the "chip shortage." Thank you. Most of us, myself included, are ignorant about this process. Look at the impact the current shortage has on the auto industry...AND the auto industry only uses 9% of the chips. Gaming is the largest consumer with around 30%, the remainder go for phones, computers, etc. As we become more dependent upon chips, imagine the world-wide impact of an EMP attack.

[@techmana4257]

seems like a Y2K like self created dooms day kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpTGd2R9mKt-j7s

[@havanowoncheese]

7:56 Screw that CPU socket. Probe this pins till they break!

[@Ragnarok540]

The Fab looks so futuristic, like it's actually 2021 in there.

[@kirk8985]

Thank you

[@rd9102]

This video gives me PTSD from all my years at Intel. Just kidding, fond memories but it is amazing how it has changed over the years since i first started way back when.

[@cyberspectre8675]

You must have worked there a long time ago. Intel's process is about as old as the Vatican.

[@ThePowerLover]

@@cyberspectre8675 Intel have already 10 nanometers CPUs.

[@rd9102]

@@cyberspectre8675 I started back in the 90's, as far as the "process" it's changed every 2 years since before i worked there. Moore's law and all which yes is not really a law and broke also many years ago now but they are still working on smaller and smaller nodes. Fear not Intel will get there.

[@rd9102]

@@ThePowerLover Intel's 10 nanometer process is several years old at this point. they have newer processes all of which i worked on before i left the company a few years ago. It takes a VERY long time to go from lab to full production on processes, lots of iterations and fine tuning before anything goes to full high volume manufacturing.

[@one198811]

What they didn't say is GF almost destroy AMD because of their incompetence. Thanks to TSMC and Dr. Su, AMD survived.

[@c2819fnf]

Ummmmmm

[@BlutigeTranen]

As someone who works in the semiconductor industry I'd like to just point out that a large part of the problem is that all these industries cancelled their orders during the initial peak of covid and most fabs had to slow down production in response. When they realized that people were still buying things, all those industries just expected the fabs were still manufacturing. They overpromised before they confirmed they had their supply. Also I'd like to point out that the process they have outlined here is an EXTREMELY simplified version. If you want to contribute to the creation of smart cars, smart phones, medical equipment, space technology and more, research more. Also I'm not sure which process but the device you hear chirping about a quarter and three quarters of the way in was designed by a company called Kokasai. I know that sound very well.

[@Inferno912]

Great video!

[@alisardo1119]

Chip industry is called to make heavy investments to respond to tomorrow's high demand and to adopt to new prospective markets calculations, as it will remain a top producer/provider in the supply chain😎

[@jonny5777]

I’m surprised there wasn’t an alien in the control room because that looks like a factory from the future

[@tyson3577]

They keep the aliens in the basement.

[@fisophia1734]

U never want go on thats room,thats scary place expecially for man, they can't smoke or carry smartphone on there, and have body scanner and metal detection on exist door.

[@lucasc5622]

@@fisophia1734 if not smoking is the worst thing about working there then sign me up

[@kevinkanter2537]

@@tyson3577 yep - it is called a sub-fab ROTFL

[@Orion227]

Incredible.

[@yanava]

Being an Engineer that designs devices I have never seen anything like this. At some points it doesn't even look real - chips that you'd never imagine would deplete are quoted with high prices or a 40 to 52 week lead time. I am looking forward to hear a deep down analysis of the whole crysis when it ends.

0:24 the world isn't running out of chips. Global chip production is the highest it has ever been. The problem is that demand right now is even higher than that. This is not the same as running out of something.

[@retro527]

That’s just being pedantic.

[@0for30]

@@ilicdjo you’re being a tad dramatic there, buddy. “300 euros for a graphics card wERe doOmEd!!” Alright, relax.

[@millionmice]

Car makers: Let's cancel our chip orders, with this pandemic people aren't buying cars, and Hertz is about to sell their fleet, the world is ending. 1 month passes Car makers: OMG we need more chips to make cars now Fabs: We sold that capacity when you cancelled the contract Car makers: *surprised Pikachu face*

[@davidashurov5255]

I've been saying this for months and people dont get it. its infuriating

[@ronhaase1290]

People buy new cars if there windows are dirty

[@mamatoliver150]

really resourceful video

[@frankgutierrez6016]

I work in a wafer fab. Pretty good job. Very interesting, you stay clean, stay busy. I like it.

[@tubester4567]

I need to have a ciggy and a cup of coffee

[@radiousis49]

The chips must flow!

[@belugaowo]

I'm from Singapore, and I never knew that chips were even made here lol.

[@FoxPremiumRecap]

You know what is democracy? Democracy Mean politician can lie to their people that democracy

[@belugaowo]

@@FoxPremiumRecap how is this relevant to my comment, but ok

[@juanwaller1942]

Awesome video.

[@workerworker7961]

People don't often know this, but computer chips are the **pinnacle** of human technology. These are incredibly small, incredibly complex machines and manufacturing them takes the very latest achievements in precision manufacturing, chemistry, and physics to do right.

[@everythingisfine9988]

The US should build chip production facilities. Can't risk permanent supply cut off if a conflict breaks out between China and Taiwan

[@rishabhmulay5230]

They already are building one in AZ

[@AmrXcellent]

My understanding is the US already passed laws and grants to Intel & other companies to build new fabrication facilities in the US.

[@brandob9]

Are you aware that this was a US based industry for a long time? The term Silicon Valley had a literal translation for a long time after the orchards were gone.

[@michelbruns]

100 million or even 25 million for one lithography machine? That would be a steal

[@PratikDaga23]

Best Buy had deals on them last week

[@Ratkill]

Oh good this is exactly what I wanted to know. I was wondering if certain styles of chips were affected ie. 7 or 5nm chips or specific sputtering techniques etc. I had no idea it was an across the board issue.

[@MrJetsetivan]

At 6:02 Mr. Kong says “lead time”, in any you wish to correct the subtitles in that section

[@donsturtevant2396]

Since so many products require a chip to function, I find it incredible that hi tech companies, and let’s use Apple as an example, could be brought to their knees by an outside vendor.

[@ks2033tv]

No idea why I watched this, I made these things for 15 years lol. Guess a bit of nostalgia.

[@Bas_Lightyear]

I used to work at Burger King and made chips for 25 years. I don’t know why I watched this either XD

[@adimperial]

Fantastic

[@darrensmith6999]

Brilliant Article Thank You (:

[@TheDd2402]

I am an Electrical Engineer and I still have difficulty in understanding how electronic transistor based circuits work. Lol

[@Talia.777]

Really? You mean is that hard to understand ?

[@leonardoalfaro6007]

@@Talia.777 I am a student almost finishing electrical engineering and yes it is that hard, sometimes you feel really dumb

[@johannes7434]

I find fascinating that for example things like a smartphone or even camera can not be understood by one human alone. It takes giant companies with hundreds or thousands of engineers to just produce a single component, let alone the whole thing. It's like swarm intelligence, where the group is far more intelligent than a single entity

[@TheMagicJIZZ]

You should read Adam Smith...he kinda made a famous book about this

[@v.jacintolol30]

No worries (Guatemala)Make It Happen

[@Hurricanefuckface]

I've done field service at Micron Singapore and Toshiba Japan, it truly is a marvel at what they have developed and continue to do so!

[@boburnem3640]

I feel so much pride as a human watching this

[@vitamin168]

WSJ should visit TSMC instead of Global Foundry....

[@spacetoast7783]

Maybe they tried and were turned down.

[@ForeignSMOHKSMOHK]

Beautiful

[@Grafzaaiers]

Who comes up with this..this is crazy. Even for a decades long process this is incredible.

[@squirtle88]

this video makes me grateful that I got my hands on a PS5 at retail :)

[@aceofsticks]

6:03 it is a lead time, easily, a one year to 15 months

[@floppytwist]

Did you record the voice over via Air Pods? Sounds a lot like the artifacts they usually cause in their microphones

[@jbainbridge22]

So grateful I got my Playstatio0n 5 :P

[@59jm24]

The US sould use the defense production act to build a large scale US based chip foundry !!!

[@oldhardrock2542]

The US should get rid of regulations that restrict the building and operation of fabs. But then, there'd have to be people to operate the fab. Thanks to the USA's decline in education standards and government paying more to not work, building plants in USA doesn't make a lot of economic sense.

[@SpottedBullet]

Those aren't built overnight, it takes years. We have some being built already.

[@dixter1652]

@@SpottedBullet A fab built in the US today.... need local government to tax exempt so the company can afford it... once the main building is built it will sit empty while its being written off via tax depreciation... thats around 5 yrs sitting empty... but a mini line will be set up with single tool sets to work out the processes, then all of the tools need to be bought and placed for the fab to start up...it takes more time and money than most think

[@skate1]

This factory looks like MONSTERS INC movie

[@hacked2123]

What was that laptop/tablet in the beginning of the video? Looks like a Dell Latitude 7159, but different

[@FrankHRitz]

We have also tooooo manny chips that does the same thing and different mounting. Here is more efficiency and standardization needed.

[@jeffamador9642]

I know a company that makes a ton of chips per year and they always have a lot left over the company is called Frito Lay .

[@davidwalsh9807]

Personally I like chips you can eat

[@tpain525]

You can eat anything if you put your mind into it

[@gremlin5813]

That's the only thing America is good at making.

[@agustinbaigorria7032]

It's amazing the world Hardware of any kind, i'm fascinated!

[@lothean2099]

I worked at a semiconductor in the US back in the day. The company decided to ship it business overseas, because it was cheaper. Why pay us 11 dollars an hour when you can pay workers 2 dollars an hour. But looking at this factory, they come a long way. Surprised they still have workers.

[@sorrychangedmyusername3594]

You should underestimate the pay in southeast Asia. I swear a day can get you so far as buy one meal per day

[@lukeh990]

Also Asia contains a lot of the important sources for the materials in the chips. It makes little logistical sense to ship to send the raw materials to the US and make the product instead of making the product then shipping it.