Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly

[skunnykart]

You're probably one of those people who are still running OS X 10.6.8 to give Apple time to work the kinks out in 10.7 and 10.8.

By the way, I bought an iPhone 5 about two weeks ago. And it is perfect.

Hey what is wrong with holding back a few months before handing over the cash?
I think that's a really wise decision.

Maybe you have been fortunate not to experience the cons of being an early (super early) adopter but many people have had very poor experiences of being first in line for a new device only to be first in line with customer service to make a warranty claim.

It only takes one or two really disappointing experiences with a faulty device straight out of the factory for one to become cautious and hesitant in making purchases too early next time a new device is released.

And it is not just for hardware. Caution should be exercised with software too. Many people experience issues with OSX updates. It is actually wise to wait and watch for bit or clone your drive and test the OSX update first on the clone to see if there are any issues first (this is what I do).

Also, what is wrong with still running snow leopard?

 

[IGregory]

Steve Jobs phoned HP when he was 13, asking to have the chance to work at HP during summer time. That was his beginning in the industry

BUT, if that happens in China, then we are exploting them...

I don't follow. There is a big difference between phoning and not receiving a job, where at Foxconn 14 year olds were actually working.

 

[Rogifan]

I don't follow. There is a big difference between phoning and not receiving a job, where at Foxconn 14 year olds were actually working.

But apparently not working on any Apple products. Yet Foxconn is still labeled "Apple's Foxconn" by the media.

 

[lk400]

Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly

"Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly"... and what did Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly say back?

----------

Is it just me, or does that headline make no sense whatsoever?

Surely it should be:

Foxconn Executive Speaks About Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly

Just posted the same thought.

In my industry I hear this new corporate speak constantly - speak to the slides, to the presentation, but usually used in a slightly different way (as in speaking alongside or with some slides or presentation). Speaking to a topic - thats a new low in the destruction of the English language.

 

[Tech198]

Things get smaller, a reality of technology..

Foxconn is acting as if its never done this before... What about the MBA ?

This is what happens when you use some 'off-shore' stuff to manufacture....

If Apple keeps this up, there will be more delays with Foxconn while they get their heads together.

 

[SeaFox]

Did you see this when you visited the factory yourself ??

Politically incorrect replies to this:

• I suppose you deny the Holocaust as well, because you weren't personally at Auschwitz in the early 1940's?

• No, we couldn't make it, but they sent us pictures.

• The small hands of children are better for intricate assembly.

• We're sorry. We got mixed up with our visit to Nike's factory.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Sounds like some here equate the iPhone 5 with blood diamonds.

 

[dreadnort]

If factories in the USA made these things production would be highly automated, the only reason they use mostly manual processes in China is because labour is dirt cheap.

if these were made in the USA, they would cost 3 times they do now

 

[everything-i]

if these were made in the USA, they would cost 3 times they do now

Its already been established that assembly in the US would only increase device cost by a small amount, I think it was about $12.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Time for Apple to invest some of their billions

Apple needs to stop focusing on "form" and start working on "function".

There is no reason why Apple cannot build a "beautiful" device that is also easily assembled using automation processes. A phone today is layers of glass, battery, logic board, in a case, period. I don't care about Apple's bulls**t excuses about meticulous attention to details, there is no reason why a phone cannot be easily assembled using machinery opposed to human fingers.

Apple needs to invest some of their hoarded billions into developing new assembly technologies that work hand in hand (sorry for the pun) with the way their devices are designed. Apple has had a spotty track record with product shortages and poor production quality issues. Apple builds up huge demand for their products which force unnecessary stress on the production facilities to produce the quantities required, and then suffer the blow of having a delayed or poor device roll out. If any company SHOULD invest in better production facilities, it is Apple.

Basically, Apple is being completely irresponsible in the way they design their products. They do not design products that allows them the fast, easy, and high quality production characteristics for a company whose products are beloved by hundreds of millions of people. Apple wants to build products like a Rolls Royce which are built by hand, but they want to produce them in quantities like Toyota Corollas.

If Apple wants be the device supplier to billions of people, they have to start investing in ways of building products that do not destroy human rights. I am tired of hearing about how rich Apple is when they are obviously investing nothing into solving the massive human rights issues they create through the demand of their products. There is no reason to have a human workforce of tens of thousands of people slaving away to build a ********** phone!

I would rather buy an iPhone that was built by robots even if it is slightly thicker and heavier than a phone built by slave labour? Wouldn't you?

 

[everything-i]

He wanted to build frequency counters, and that's where they put him, for a couple of weeks during the holidays, huh?

---
Foxconn tells Apple that they can build an iPhone for $8. They're the only company who has the capacity to do it. They just have to say "Sorry, $15, pal.", pay their workers more and the problem is solved. It's not like there's any real competition, and they just don't give a damn about their employees. It's slavery, and Apple already has trouble shipping iPhones. To ship the fruits of slavery or to not ship at all, that's the question. And I think everybody agrees that it has to ship, for our iPhone 4s and 4S are so unbearably heavy, thick and slow.

Apple - Y U NO ship iPhone 5 DIY kit?

You don't seem to understand anything about the situation here. The workers on Apple production are getting paid very well compared with other similar workers in China. Slaves are not paid at all and have no choice so how are these paid workers that have asked Foxconn to employ them slaves exactly? Foxconn obviously underestimated how difficult the new devices where to manufacture and have quoted too low. The workers are getting annoyed because they can't build the phones as fast as Foxconn think they should without damaging the phone and its causing stress. Ultimately these problems will be resolved and working practices changed to get the production levels back up to original expectations without high reject rates. The workers will be happy because they are still getting paid high wages for that country and are also getting a lot of other benefits too. Foxconn has people hammering at the door to work in its factories so they are not forcing anyone to work for them quite the opposite. We think the wages are low because we couldn't live on them where we live but the cost of living in China, especially in rural areas, is extremely low compared to the US or Europe and these people are earning a fortune compared to workers in the rural communities many have come from.

 

[mr.datsun]

Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly

You can speak of or speak about a difficulty but I'm pretty sure you cannot speak to a difficulty. Mainly, I guess because the difficulty can't actually listen or respond.

Pedantic I know, but that use of English is bordering on the non-sensical.

 

[bossxii]

Who wouldn't be pissed if they spent an insane amount of money and the product wasn't flawless on arrival?

Sorry but $200 is not an "insane" amount of money for some people. Nor is $600... insane would be if I purchase a $300,000 super car and it had a nick in the paint, yes then I am going to have a conversation with the manufacturer. I"m still not going to freak out and post a bunch of Hyperbole how I returned 7 iPhones because I "think" I saw a blemish. However I realize the OCD web I read and that is norm now. Still ridiculous, but true.

 

[rendevouspoo]

Sorry but $200 is not an "insane" amount of money for some people. Nor is $600... insane would be if I purchase a $300,000 super car and it had a nick in the paint, yes then I am going to have a conversation with the manufacturer. I"m still not going to freak out and post a bunch of Hyperbole how I returned 7 iPhones because I "think" I saw a blemish. However I realize the OCD web I read and that is norm now. Still ridiculous, but true.

For what it is, yes.. it is an insane amount of money so it better be flawless when I receive it. There's not excuse for it not to be.

 

[Giuly]

You don't seem to understand anything about the situation here. The workers on Apple production are getting paid very well compared with other similar workers in China. Slaves are not paid at all and have no choice so how are these paid workers that have asked Foxconn to employ them slaves exactly? Foxconn obviously underestimated how difficult the new devices where to manufacture and have quoted too low. The workers are getting annoyed because they can't build the phones as fast as Foxconn think they should without damaging the phone and its causing stress. Ultimately these problems will be resolved and working practices changed to get the production levels back up to original expectations without high reject rates. The workers will be happy because they are still getting paid high wages for that country and are also getting a lot of other benefits too. Foxconn has people hammering at the door to work in its factories so they are not forcing anyone to work for them quite the opposite. We think the wages are low because we couldn't live on them where we live but the cost of living in China, especially in rural areas, is extremely low compared to the US or Europe and these people are earning a fortune compared to workers in the rural communities many have come from.

Look here.

You're saying that a payment of 2000 Yuan in a country where a bottle of water (0.33l) costs 2.50 Yuan, a McDonald's menu 30 Yuan, a quart of milk 12.50 Yuan or a pint of domestic beer 8 Yuan is not slavery? For me, 2000 Yuan are covering the costs of living, which is what you have to do if you don't want your slaves to die. Heck, an iPhone 4S on contract costs 4880 Yuan, two and a half times the monthly income. Even the Galaxy SII costs 2800 Yuan off-contract.

If they were equal to $2000, or even $1500, that would be at least fair. But it's not like 2000 Yuan will buy you more than $500 in the US. And working for 12-14 hours a day for $500 a month would rather be slavery for me.

 

[NotABlindiSheep]

*snicker*



Enjoy your plastic phone.

I honestly do not understand what motivates people to make comments like these. WHY CARE if someone else has a plastic phone? You are enormously petty for judging someone else (and subsequently mocking them) on what material their phone is made out of. Get over yourself.

I recently replaced my battery in my 3GS, and I gotta say the connectors in the phone are so tiny I had some trouble connecting them. I'm sure that if I had more practice I'd be more efficient at it. I'm a patient person so I can wait for the iPhone 5, and I'll cut the factory workers some slack cos I know if I was them I'd probably be hating life.

 

[LagunaSol]

I honestly do not understand what motivates people to make comments like these. WHY CARE if someone else has a plastic phone? You are enormously petty for judging someone else (and subsequently mocking them) on what material their phone is made out of. Get over yourself.

My comment was in direct response to another commenter who claimed the Samsung has "stellar" build quality, when the consensus of online reviews says it does not.

Personally I don't care if someone wants a cheaply-built plastic phone.

 

[Renzatic]

I honestly do not understand what motivates people to make comments like these. WHY CARE if someone else has a plastic phone?

It's the weird love affair some people have for aluminum around here. Apple makes all their stuff out of it, so they think it must be the best metal in the world.

Hell, Samsung could come out with a phone made out of a single block of platinum, and you'd have LagunaSol and his ilk screaming that they copied Apple with a cheap silver knockoff.

 

[brdeveloper]

Steve Jobs phoned HP when he was 13, asking to have the chance to work at HP during summer time. That was his beginning in the industry

BUT, if that happens in China, then we are exploting them...

As you said, it was just a summer job, not 12h/day work. Oh, wait, I presume you were being ironic.

 

[sonyisawesome]

Foxconn = scum of a company operated by a taiwanese company.

This company makes child labor during Industrial Revolution look like a pajama party.

 

[mnoya]

Get the right mind set

Of course it is harder to build. You don't build a Rolls Royce (or pick your favorite luxury car) on a Model-T assembly line.

 

[everything-i]

Look here.

You're saying that a payment of 2000 Yuan in a country where a bottle of water (0.33l) costs 2.50 Yuan, a McDonald's menu 30 Yuan, a quart of milk 12.50 Yuan or a pint of domestic beer 8 Yuan is not slavery? For me, 2000 Yuan are covering the costs of living, which is what you have to do if you don't want your slaves to die. Heck, an iPhone 4S on contract costs 4880 Yuan, two and a half times the monthly income. Even the Galaxy SII costs 2800 Yuan off-contract.

If they were equal to $2000, or even $1500, that would be at least fair. But it's not like 2000 Yuan will buy you more than $500 in the US. And working for 12-14 hours a day for $500 a month would rather be slavery for me.

Or they could work for someone else in China and earn half of that or less. This is China we are talking about, you can't compare it in any way to the way you live, what use is a Galaxy SII or a crappy McDonald meal to a peasant farmer, that being their only other option. Most of the population in China can only dream of earning this kind of money. I'm not saying its right, but these are the facts. At the moment that is the way it is in China. It's changing fast as we have seen wages are starting to spiral and in maybe 20 years they will be more comparable to western wages at which point the production lines will probably all be mechanised as they have been in the west and these unskilled labourers will be mostly out of work. I suggest you look up the definition of slavery because this isn't it, as I said you would not work for this money but they happily do and there are queues waiting join them.

 

[GermanyChris]

]Or they could work for someone else in China and earn half of that or less[/B]. This is China we are talking about, you can't compare it in any way to the way you live, what use is a Galaxy SII or a crappy McDonald meal to a peasant farmer, that being their only other option. Most of the population in China can only dream of earning this kind of money. I'm not saying its right, but these are the facts. At the moment that is the way it is in China. It's changing fast as we have seen wages are starting to spiral and in maybe 20 years they will be more comparable to western wages at which point the production lines will probably all be mechanised as they have been in the west and these unskilled labourers will be mostly out of work. I suggest you look up the definition of slavery because this isn't it, as I said you would not work for this money but they happily do and there are queues waiting join them.

Or we could stop supporting the practice by not manufacturing there..

 

[wrkactjob]

cry me a river?

"Oh yangtze! oh yangtze! beautiful river...."

 

[everything-i]

Or we could stop supporting the practice by not manufacturing there..

Yeh, like that's ever going to happen. The only way to stop that would be to make it illegal there is just too much money at stake. If people really cared they wouldn't buy the products, but as we can see its easy to talk but far more difficult to act.