TSMC’s audit team checked the supplier’s chemical tanks, the properties of chemicals, spill prevention measures, and wastewater discharge management.
TSMC's team of experts audited the supplier's fire protection system.

To Enhance Supply Chain Resilience for Sustainable Development, TSMC Launches Supplier Healthiness Assessment Rectification Program (S.H.A.R.P.)

36 Key Supplier Audits Completed and 1,213 Improvements Being Tracked Monthly
Charles Chen
Edward Chan
Teresa Peng

In response to the increasing production capacity, TSMC launched a Supplier Healthiness Assessment Rectification Program (S.H.A.R.P.) for in an effort to ensure continuous operations and enhance the sustainability of the supply chain and risk management. An audit team comprised of was assembled to conduct a comprehensive assessment with a professional third-party organization. The program integrates TSMC’s supplier audits in various fields, and delves deeper into to enhance supplier capabilities and resilience. As of January 2021, a total of 36 key suppliers have been inspected.

Supplier Healthiness Assessment Rectification Program (S.H.A.R.P.)

Five Core Aspects Improvement Demand Organizations in Charge
TSMC S.H.A.R.P. Team External Third-party Organization
Supply Chain Risks
  • Establish a water and electricity consumption monitoring system and set up a complete backup plan
  • Set reasonable raw material and product inventory levels
  • Evaluate and execute supply backup plans for multiple production lines
  • Perform risk assessment and management on upstream suppliers of key raw materials, and demand process change notification and audit
  • Establish standard procedures for COVID-19 prevention measures and risk management
TSMC S.H.A.R.P. Team External Third-Party Organization
Quality & Reliability
  • Establish an effective monitoring mechanism and emergency response process for high-risk manufacturing processes
  • Independently review the inspection system of key components
Environmental Health and Safety
  • Establish safety guidelines for operators working with nine categories of dangerous materials
  • Devise pollution prevention and control rules and regulations
Fire Protection System
  • TSMC's measured supplier plant fire alarm system
  • Establish a clear management system for hot work and fire interruption operations
Labor & Ethics
  • Implement labor hours in compliance with laws and regulations

Establishing a responsible supply chain is one of the important directions of TSMC’s corporate social responsibility. We look forward to working with our suppliers to identify the fine points of sustainable development through the rigorous S.H.A.R.P. program, and share TSMC’s manufacturing and operating standards to minimize operational risks in the supply chain and achieve the ultimate goal of common good.

- Handy Ko, Director of Material Supply Chain Management Division at TSMC

36 Key Supplier Audits, 1,213 Improvements, to Enhance Supply Chain Competitiveness

TSMC’s S.H.A.R.P. team conducts on-site inspections to identify potential risks, seek out the best preventive measures, and build a solid shield to support the rapid expansion of the semiconductor supply chain. As of January 2021, a total of 36 key supplier healthiness assessments have been completed, and 1,213 improvement requests have been listed. TSMC’s S.H.A.R.P. team personally met with supplier management team to find the best solution and tracked the improvement progress on a monthly basis until all improvements are completed.

Common Issues and Deficiencies Identified by Supplier Healthiness Assessment Rectification Program (S.H.A.R.P.)

TSMC is glad to share its operations and manufacturing management experiences with suppliers. Take Chang Chun Petrochemical Co., Ltd. No. 2 Plant in Miaoli County, Taiwan, which achieved excellent results in S.H.A.R.P. program, as an example. The key to their results is the use of a fully automated inspection process and management system. In addition, the plant has a dual power supply system to reduce the risk and impact of power outages, and a dual water supply system to reduce the risk of water shortage. Numerous water and energy saving measures are actively promoted in the plant, resulting in 53.93 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1.21 million metric tons of water saved annually. Chang Chun Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is one of the winners of TSMC's “Excellent Performance Award” in 2020.

Chang Chun Group firmly believes that the environment is the most precious asset of mankind, and environmental protection is our responsibility. Through continuous improvement of processes, industrial waste reduction, pollution prevention, and various innovative green technologies, we are able to enhance our pollution treatment capability. We are honored to be recognized by the S.H.A.R.P. program and will continue to work closely with TSMC to fulfill our social responsibilities and move towards a sustainable operation.

- Chen Chou-Sin, President of Chang Chun Petrochemical Co., Ltd., a Subsidiary Company of Chang Chun Group

TSMC continues the spirit of corporate social responsibility and steadily moves towards the short-, medium-, and long-term goals of the S.H.A.R.P. program to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain, so that suppliers and their employees can prosper together and enhance the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry.

Important Milestones of Supplier Healthiness Assessment Rectification Program (S.H.A.R.P.)