Inside the Heart of Innovation: My Journey to the MSI Factory in China
Are you using a laptop or another electronic device to read this article?
Introduction
Most likely, I don’t have a printed version of my blog yet! So at some point, you must have wondered, how these electronic devices have been manufactured? Or even how the chips in all the other consumer appliances are made? This is the right place to be. I’ll introduce you one of the world’s best manufacturer of gaming laptops, called MSI. I had the chance to visit their manufacturing plants in ShenZhen and KuShan in January 2024 as part of my academic work. But first, let me talk a little bit about MSI.
MSI
Micro-Star International (MSI) is a Taiwanese multinational information technology corporation headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Known worldwide as a world leader in gaming, content creation, business and productivity, and AIoT solutions, MSI focuses on a wide variety of products and solutions. One of their flagship laptops is the one shown in the picture above. MSI pioneers critical developments in AI, enterprise computing, and IoT. Cloud servers, customizable industrial PCs, smart robotic appliances, and vehicle infotainment and telematics systems are MSI’s fields of expertise where the most comprehensive AIoT solutions are built. MSI has a wide-ranging global presence, spanning over 120 countries. MSI operates three major manufacturing plants located in Shenzhen, Kunshan, and Taoyuan.
Meeting at Shenzhen
The MSI plant in Shenzhen has everything what you wish for! The dorms are right next to the factory, so you basically are not wasting any time for commuting every day. On site, there is also a library, coffee shops, supermarkets, barber shops and even a gaming center, where you can use VR/AR headsets and a gaming table with 5 desktops on each side, very much like they have during those league of legends tournaments.
Manufacturing of Motherboards
One of the specialties of MSI is producing top-notch motherboards. These are the pieces that are the heart of your laptop, where all parts connect to. Wait but why are they called motherboards? And not fatherboards? Well, the reason is, because each conncetion has a masculine and feminine plug. And on the motherboard, all plugs are feminine. If you want to be gender-neutral, you could also call it mainboard. Well, enough political talk, let’s talk about how these motherboards are manufactured. And many steps do overlap with other hardware components, like GPU or other PCBs.
- Solder Printing: The first step involves applying solder paste onto the bare motherboard using a stencil. This paste helps secure electronic components in later stages.
2. Solder Paste Inspection: Automated systems inspect the applied solder paste to ensure it meets quality standards. This step is crucial for preventing defects in the solder joints.
3. Chip Placement via SMT (Surface Mount Technology): Surface mount components, such as resistors, capacitors, and smaller integrated circuits, are placed on the motherboard using pick-and-place machines guided by the design specifications.
4. Reflow: The motherboard is passed through a high-temperature oven during the reflow process. This melts the solder paste, creating secure connections between the components and the board.
5. Flip the Board Upside Down: The motherboard may be flipped to access the other side for additional component placement and soldering.
6. Solder Printing (Second Pass): If necessary, additional solder printing may be done for components on the newly accessible side of the motherboard.
7. Solder Paste Inspection (Second Pass): Another inspection is performed to verify the solder paste quality on the second side of the board.
8. Chip Placement via SMT (Second Pass): Additional surface mount components are placed on the second side of the motherboard.
9. Reflow (Second Pass): The motherboard undergoes another reflow process to ensure proper soldering of the components on the second side.
10. BGA (Ball Grid Array) Placement: BGAs, which are larger and more complex components, are placed on the motherboard using specialized equipment.
11. Wave-Soldering: In some cases, through-hole components are attached using wave soldering, where the motherboard is passed over a wave of molten solder.
12. Selective Point Soldering: For certain components that may not be suitable for reflow or wave soldering, selective point soldering may be employed to ensure precise soldering.
13. Auto-ICT (In-Circuit Testing): In-circuit testing is performed automatically to identify any manufacturing defects, ensuring the electrical functionality of the motherboard.
14. Assembly: The fully populated motherboard undergoes assembly, where additional components like connectors, ports, and sockets are added.
15. Laser Router Machine: A laser router machine cuts the motherboard into its final shape, creating the required outlines and dimensions.
16. Auto-Function Test: Automated systems conduct functional tests on the motherboard to ensure all components work together as intended.
17. Testing of Monitor, Functions: Specific tests are conducted to verify the functionality of critical features, such as video output and other specialized functions.
18. Packaging: The finished and tested motherboards are then packaged, ready for distribution and use in various electronic devices.
Factory Visit in KunShan
We also had the chance to visit the plant in Kunshan close to Shanghai. The plant is quite similar in the setup compared to Shenzhen. On January 17, 2024, the journey commenced from Shenzhen to Shanghai with a specific focus on exploring the technological landscape at the Kunshan Factory. The subsequent days were dedicated to gaining comprehensive insights into various facets of the manufacturing process.
On January 18, 2024, the agenda unfolded with a meticulous exploration of the notebook, unraveling the intricacies of its design and functionality. The journey continued with a visit to the smart warehouse, providing a firsthand experience of advanced storage and logistics systems. Following this, attention shifted to the PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) production line, where the intricate process of populating circuit boards with components was observed. The exploration culminated with a visit to the assembly line, shedding light on the meticulous procedures involved in bringing together the components to create the final product.
Moving forward to January 19, 2024, the focus shifted towards cutting-edge developments in automation equipment. A visit to the automation equipment development area provided valuable insights into the latest technologies driving efficiency and precision in the manufacturing process. The day continued with a session on sharing insights into the automation processes implemented, emphasizing the role of technology in streamlining operations.
The journey reached its pinnacle with a final meeting, consolidating the gathered knowledge and fostering discussions on potential collaborations and advancements. This comprehensive exploration of the Kunshan Factory not only delved into the intricacies of notebook production but also provided a glimpse into the future of manufacturing through automation and advanced processes.
Anecdotes & Observations from the travel
One interesting thing happened to me while I was chatting with a colleague at the airport. I barely noticed it, but a woman behind us just overtook us without saying anything, because we were not closing the gap in the queue. I thought this was quite interesting, because this hasn’t happen to me at all in over 5 years living in Taiwan.
Besides that, it was impossible to use NordVPN in China, even though I paid and installed it beforehand for about 13 USD. It worked fine outside of China, but in China, there was no place that I could use it. So all the familiar services and homepages were not accessible to me in China, which was a desaster! I could not use google, whatsapp, youtube and many more. So I was recommened some other VPNs that work well in China. One of them is Shadow Rocket. The food was also amazing, but I will write about this in one of my next blogs.
Reflections
So after all, it was quite enlightening to see the production and automation processes at MSI’s plant. They produce top notch notebooks with an emphasis on quality. They will automate much more in the near future and the production plants will set an example of what is possible in automation. From my feeling, the plant itself is a really attractive place to work at, so I hope will still have some workers there who can enjoy the facilities. I mean, would a robot enjoy playing that 360 degree flight simulator after all? Or does he benefit from getting a hair cut at MSI’s barber shop?
Acknowledgments
I need to express my dearest gratitude to everyone who made this experience possible. All the people at MSI have been so welcoming to our group. I was quite sad when I had to leave the place. So I hope, that I can go there sometime soon! And definitely big thanks to my Professor, Shou-Yan Chou, and my University, NTUST, who supported this knowledge exchange.
再見 — One last thing
It’s time to say 再見, which means goodbye in Mandarin. I really enjoyed my trip to MSI in China and am happy to share my experience with you. MSI is such a great place to work, it felt a like being at one of the FAANG companies with all the goodies that they offer. China is a fast paced country with lots of development and huge scales. It offers culinary treasures, many impressive megacities and many more things to discover for curious minds. I hope, that my blog has introduced you more of the tech-side and more about China. Let me know what you experienced in the comments! I’d also appreciate a virtual hand! If you want to stay tuned and discover other travel gems around Asia and the world with me, follow me right here or connect with me on LinkedIn to not miss out on future blogs. I also write about travel, food and some of my other hobbies.
