A Surprising Secret Behind Taiwan's High-Tech and Semiconductor Success: Kuai Kuai (乖乖) culture?! I just returned from Taiwan trip last week – and I am deeply grateful to SPIL and ASE, Taiwan's leading OSAT companies, for their warm hospitality and their collaboration in Advanced Testing and Packaging solutions. Their commitment to co-innovation, specially in adopting our advanced AI/ML solutions, was truly inspiring. 💭 Yet, amidst this landscape of cutting-edge technology and scientific breakthroughs, I stumbled upon a delightful local tradition that charmingly contrasts with the high stakes of semiconductor manufacturing: the Kuai Kuai culture. 💚 🇹🇼 Taiwan is renowned for its formidable position in the semiconductor industry, a testament to relentless scientific breakthroughs, exceptional process control, and a continuous improvement mindset. However, it was fascinating to discover that alongside these technological advancements, there's a playful reverence for the green bags of Kuai Kuai chips, believed to keep systems well-behaved and obedient. At TSMC, this belief is celebrated with a special edition Kuai Kuai bags, a nod to its cultural significance and a morale booster for the teams. During my visit, I learned how these green bags are placed strategically around facilities to foster good luck. For instance, in server rooms and labs, where the stakes are high, a green Kuai Kuai bag can often be found perched near critical systems, a symbol of good fortune and smooth operations – and there are specific rules to follow: 1️⃣ Never eat the Kuai Kuai that is protecting your equipment, 2️⃣ Carefully dispose it before expiration 3️⃣ Only use the GREEN bags – for error-free operations . While a bag of green Kuai Kuai is no substitute for the rigorous demands of scientific innovation, process discipline, and advanced systems, embracing this cultural icon was a delightful discovery in Taiwan. It serves as a reminder that in the heart of technology, there's always room for a bit of fun 😁 and tradition.
Shih-To F.
3mo
Wow this brings back memories. The first time I heard this was a story with the server folks who once had a stubborn server that refused to come back online after update, and the senior guy just checked the bag on the top of the rack, muttered "yep, expired", swapped in a new bag and rebooted - everything came up smoothly after that 🤣 Oh and trivia: The choice of the snack was based on the double meaning of the word "乖乖" which can be translated to "behave" 😉
Yee Ann Yuen
4mo
Interesting, I love 乖乖when I was a kid, never thought of the snack doubles as lucky charm for TSMC fab.
Walter Wohlmuth
4mo
You will find these items even in general offices of many industries not only semiconductors. Anything from a home office to real estate office to government office, etc… recently with so many earthquakes (another 2, 5.9 ones, this evening) more of these bags are popping up.
Jack Tsaur
4mo
Dear friend, thank you for sharing this interesting observation. As a Taiwanese, Kuai Kuai (the obedient cracker) is indeed a childhood memory for me, and its name literally means "obedient" or "well-behaved" in words straightforward. I'm delighted that you had the opportunity to glimpse the nuances of Taiwan's tech industry, not only the advanced technology aspects but also the interesting integration with local culture. This inclusive characteristic is one of the keys to Taiwan's continued leadership in the high-tech field. We value innovation while also understanding how to inject the vitality of traditional culture into busy work, making life more vibrant. In the future, I hope Taiwan's technological strengths will continue to strengthen, and we can also continue to inherit and promote these customs with a human touch, as they embody Taiwan's unique cultural connotations and are our precious assets. Thank you again for appreciating and enjoying this side of Taiwan. You are welcome to visit Taiwan again and experience the charm of this land together.
Chia Hung Lin
4mo
Thanks for sharing, a lot of Taiwan engineers learned this KuaiKuai culture since ten years ago I was in SPIL, at that moment I remembered it had no TSMC logo yet, we even couldn’t take pizza or pineapple stuffs inside company in order to maintaining processes smoothly. Only TSMC bring this culture to everyone and show its serious on this tiny stuff and habit…
Steve Tseng
3mo
legend has it that if you place a bag of this snack on a troublesome equipment, it will automatically fix it.
Tamas Hevizi
4mo
Thanks brother. I now have Kuai Kuai around most of my electronics.
Roger C.
3mo
Now the secret is out... go buy some Kuai Kuai stocks. Oh wait... I mean stocking some Kuai Kuai.
Entegris
3moThanks for sharing! Growing up in China, children are constantly told by their parents, teachers, grandparents, and grown-ups to be 乖 (guāi), meaning well-behaved, obedient, and compliant. This concept is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, emphasizing respect for authority, seniority, discipline and harmony. Experiencing culture shock when I first arrived at graduate school in the US is still a vivid memory for me. Although I have lived in America for almost 25 years, this cultural expectation still remains a significant part of my worldview. Consequently, I instinctively encourage my two sons, who were born and raised in the US, to be 乖. However, American culture values individuality and self-expression, leading to frequent pushback from my sons. They see my expectations as overly restrictive, resulting in disagreements and misunderstandings. Navigating this cultural clash is challenging. I want to introduce the virtues I was taught while allowing my sons to develop within their own cultural context. Still keep trying on the way 😁