Apple Suppliers in China Aim to Resume Full Production by February 10 Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

[MacRumors]

Apple suppliers in China including Foxconn plan to resume full-scale production by February 10, despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country, reports Bloomberg.

Foxconn's Hon Hai, the most important manufacturer for the U.S. company, said Tuesday it still expects to be able to restart facilities throughout China on schedule, according to a text message sent to Bloomberg News. Suppliers such as Quanta Computer Inc., Inventec Corp. and LG Display Co. also said they would go back to work next week in China.

The vast majority of Apple's iPhones are made in China, at Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant and at Pegatron's assembly site near Shanghai. Both locations are more than 500 kilometers away from Wuhan in central China, the epicenter of the viral outbreak.

Despite being ordered to halt "almost all" of its production in China through February 9, Foxconn recently claimed the viral outbreak has had a "fairly small impact" on iPhone production. Foxconn has factories in other countries such as Vietnam, India, and Mexico that have apparently been able to fill the gap.

Apple last week announced that it has closed all of its corporate offices, stores, and contact centers in mainland China through February 9 due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, out of an abundance of caution. Apple has around 10,000 direct employees in China, across its retail and corporate divisions.

The timing of the coronavirus outbreak could impact supply of the new lower-cost iPhone that Apple is expected to announce in March. Bloomberg recently reported that production of the device was slated to begin in February, but the coronavirus outbreak could delay that timeframe.

More than 20,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 400 have died. Last week, the World Health Organization declared the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency. More information about the virus and how to protect yourself is available on the agency's website.

Article Link: Apple Suppliers in China Aim to Resume Full Production by February 10 Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

 

[Abazigal]

Don’t underestimate Apple’s supply chain.

I am willing to bet that Apple has contingency plans in place to minimise disruptions to its supply chain, such as reducing their dependency on any one supplier.

Not saying there won’t be any impact, but the idea that Apple’s supply chain is going to come to a grinding halt just because is laughable.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

I am willing to bet that Apple has contingency plans in place to minimise disruptions to its supply chain, such as reducing their dependency on any one supplier.

Except the other suppliers are also in China. Very few components are manufactured outside of China these days.

 

[travis64]

Yea no thanks i will be keeping this iphone 11 forever

not worth dying over

 

[newyorksole]

Nothing can stop a company from making money Lolol.

 

[Andres Cantu]

They’re treating the outbreak like everything’s all right again. I hope so, but it’s never over till it’s over and we have an actual vaccine.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Nothing can stop a company from making money Lolol.

Yup. Apple might have to step in and put the brakes on Foxconn/Hon Hai.

If the “SE2” is released in April instead of March, it really doesn’t matter.

 

[dumastudetto]

People forget iPhones literally are life-saving devices every hour of eery day of the week, all over the world. It is legit vital for humanity that the show goes on in terms of iPhone production.

 

[calzon65]

When I heard about the "SE2" I was thrilled and hope it comes true soon, but not at the cost of human lives and suffering.

 

[BootsWalking]

I aim to run a 5 minute mile but reality may have a different opinion on the matter.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Yea no thanks i will be keeping this iphone 11 forever

not worth dying over

no ones dying because of your iPhone

 

[code-m]

Yea no thanks i will be keeping this iphone 11 forever

not worth dying over

Either you are being smirk or you are not familiar of virus lifespan or how it is communicable.
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no ones dying because of your iPhone

Education system at its finest.
[automerge]1580826727[/automerge]

People forget iPhones literally are life-saving devices every hour of eery day of the week, all over the world. It is legit vital for humanity that the show goes on in terms of iPhone production.

No device is going to save lives if there is no one on the other end to reciprocate actions needed, no signal or battery. Let’s not put any technology on a pedestal.
[automerge]1580826883[/automerge]

They’re treating the outbreak like everything’s all right again. I hope so, but it’s never over till it’s over and we have an actual vaccine.

I believe it’s more about damage control than anything else to instil confidence in the market.

Reality is how much of an impact we do not know, but it will have an impact as many companies have ceased operations temporarily.

We also don’t know if the virus may mutate, but the incubation period of two weeks still applies.
[automerge]1580826941[/automerge]

Nothing can stop a company from making money Lolol.

There is a joke here, but not a political forum. Just a joke.
[automerge]1580827082[/automerge]

Except the other suppliers are also in China. Very few components are manufactured outside of China these days.

Any supply chain is like a watch, removing some components may not stop it from working completely but it will not be functioning at its finest. Depends if there are enough parts and components on hand for assembly. I am curious of how this effects repairs.

 

[betterbegood]

Peak capitalism never fails to care more about financial growth than the livelihood of the people producing said growth. Apple should halt until they felt safe having people working there and Foxconn should not allow workers either.

 

[nylonsteel]

most likely a good move on aapl part

 

[Cosmosent]

Apple needs to protect those workers, even if the companies they work for won't !

Doing so, OR NOT doing so, is the most-important decision of Cook's life !

 

[44267547]

Even if production was delayed, it’s not like Apple couldn’t make up for XYZ manufactured units once concerns have settled. I have very little doubt that this would totally impact the iPhone production level significantly, but as I said, even if it did, I think it would probably be more of a slight inconvenience than a major problem.

Additionally, I guarantee Apple has ‘fail safe’ plans for situations where production could be affected by certain events.

 

[Freida]

and yet more people die from flu each year..........

 

[travis64]

“

Either you are being smirk or you are not familiar of virus lifespan or how it is communicable”

I don’t care what they say the lifespan is I don’t believe them

 

[iapplelove]

and yet more people die from flu each year..........

10,000 deaths so far this season in the U.S. alone. And counting.

180,000 sick and hospitalized. All ages.

 

[ThomasJL]

Tim Cook cares more about shareholders than factory workers, despite his pretending to be a caring and compassionate humanitarian.

 

[I7guy]

Apple needs to protect those workers, even if the companies they work for won't !

Doing so, OR NOT doing so, is the most-important decision of Cook's life !

You (and others) don’t think Cook won’t ensure that if and when operations return to normal, people’s well being wont be taken into account?

 

[cocky jeremy]

Tim Cook cares more about shareholders than factory workers, despite his pretending to be a caring and compassionate humanitarian.

He answers to shareholders, not factory workers, so yeah.. obviously.

 

[allapple]

....will they be including a vaccine kit with every phone?

 

[JPack]

10,000 deaths so far this season in the U.S. alone. And counting.

180,000 sick and hospitalized. All ages.

Hey you with the facts, don't spoil it!

 

[Rocko99991]

Will they come with a bleach wipe in each box?