TSMC's first Japan fab on track for mass production by year-end

TOKYO -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is close to starting mass production this year at its first Japanese plant, in Kumamoto prefecture, the president of a local operating unit said here Friday.

TSMC has successfully launched a production line in Kumamoto of "the same quality as plants in Taiwan," said Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing's Yuichi Horita at the Semicon Japan trade show.