United Microelectronics Corp.’s largest manufacturing facility earned recognition from the World Economic Forum, becoming the first semiconductor foundry to join the organization’s Global Lighthouse Network of advanced factories.
The chipmaker’s Fab 12A plant in southern Taiwan achieved a 97% production yield while reducing design kit delivery time by 57% through artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing solutions. The facility, which comprises three interconnected plants with 3,000 machines, implemented an automated material handling system to manage 68 million possible wafer transport routes.
UMC’s smart manufacturing division, established in 2017, developed 95% of the 48 solutions deployed at the site. The company focused on specialized process technologies to differentiate itself in the competitive foundry market.
The World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company launched the Lighthouse Network in 2018 to recognize factories demonstrating leadership in Industry 4.0 technologies. The network has grown to include 189 facilities across 30 countries and 35 industries.
UMC executive vice president Jason Wu said the recognition validates the company’s digital transformation strategy, though challenges remain in meeting increasingly strict manufacturing specifications.