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Foxconn Workers Reportedly Strike over iPhone 5 Quality Control Demands
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I don't think it was as much "Design Defects" as much it was assembly difficulties. While a good design will take in account assembly in the design of the product, this is just one of the many decisions that are made during the design process. From reports that I have read, the assembly of the iPhone 5 is to tighter tolerances than previous products. I would think that this is probably the biggest reason for assembly issues.
While the black case may be easier to scratch during the assembly process, the QC should be catching these devices prior to packaging. That scratched devices are being shipped is an indicator that Foxconn is not properly performing QC and even more important, they are not reviewing the assembly steps to determine where the scratches are coming from.
If I had a suspicious mind, I would think that there was deliberate damage occurring as a tool to either decrease the workload or to increase wages.
I presume you typed your comment on an organic wooden computer hand crafted by wise wealthy and old men who only do it as a hobby.
The truth is that practically everything you touch that doesn't grow in the ground or feed on what grows in the ground, is at least in part made in China. If you can't deal with that fact you have a hard road ahead. What I suggest that you do is use whatever access to democracy you have and vote for someone who cares about what you care about and is not beholden to big money and lobbyists. If your american, neither B. Obama or M. Romney are worthy of your vote.
Foxconn increased wages to $690/month
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/05/28/apples-foxconn-to-double-wages-again/
So at 4.34 weeks a month x 60 hours a week = 260 hours/month
So they make about $2.65/hour.
Estimates on labor per phone in Oct 2010 for the 4 was $6.50. But as wages doubled, it's probably about $13 bucks now. Elsewhere someone said $8. So between $8-13 per phone.
That's a range at between 3-5 hours per phone.
Garment makers/ furniture makers make about $10-12 an hour.
So the range and additional cost is ~$30 to 60 in the US.
So the difference in US manufacturing is likely to fall between $22-47 per phone.
The right thing to do is absorb that. Or make em in Canada. Canadians pay that extra anyway.
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Also, people don't need to work $60 hour weeks. In the US you would run 30-40 hour weeks.
The only reason they do $60 hours is to cut training costs which are probably, hour wise, less in the states. and because many workers want max hours to make more $$.
The big cost in the US is compliance and taxes, i.e. being decent to people and giving back to the economy.
Yes, and the price of that Iphone will double.
No it won't. 20% above current price level max. I made some calculations in a previous Foxconn thread.
My friend got the black iPhone 5 and after only a week, even treating it very carefully, the paint is coming off near the headphone jack and on the corner/side. There are no scratches on it and the silver coming through doesn't show a scratch.
He wanted to buy a case but the Apple store didn't have any at his location.
It's a real problem.
He wanted to buy a case but the Apple store didn't have any at his location.
It's a real problem.
So when my iPhone 5 arrives, it comes with bad karma: manufactured by a mad and angry Chinese factory worker.
At least you're admitting it. There's quite a few here that could care less about the well-being of another person as long as they get their precious phone.
The same, apple doesn't collect stupid profits...
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Apple doesn't collect ridiculous profits.
It would be better for quality and our economy.
Typical of no one to examine the bigger picture.
We the consumers are responsible for being such sheep for every ****ing product that corporations like Apple pimp to us.
Do I need that iPhone 5? No.
Do I need that iPhone 5? No.
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"Are you willing to pay $1200 for your Iphone?"
It wouldn't be a case of the iPhone costing more to the consumer if Apple soaked up the increased labour costs in its manufacturer and simply kept the price as it is by taking less profit.
Actually, despite being an exclusive Apple user since the mid 1980s, the company is now beginning to get on my t*ts.
It wouldn't be a case of the iPhone costing more to the consumer if Apple soaked up the increased labour costs in its manufacturer and simply kept the price as it is by taking less profit.
Actually, despite being an exclusive Apple user since the mid 1980s, the company is now beginning to get on my t*ts.
I agree with you in that the tolerances are remarkable and are a big reason for the extra stress on the assembly lines. But my interpretation of "design defects" is that they are referring to the soft chamfered edge and the black anodized aluminum and how easily they can be nicked or scratched on the assembly line and that no matter how tight the tolerances are or how careful the employees are, there will be nicks and scratches during assembly. I see it as the employees are being put under even more pressure to prevent the nicks and scratches, which probably slows the line down resulting in a scolding from a supervisor telling them they're going too slow. The assembly worker is in a no win situation due to the design of the phone.
Is it possible that QC is in fact catching the nicked and scratched devices before they are package but choosing to pack them anyways due to the pressure from Apple to meet orders?
Unless there is an inherent problem with the design of the assembly line itself which is causing these quality issues, then it would in fact come down to product design defect would it not?
Supply chain management. They outsource for a reason.
Apple doesn't care about our economy they care about profits
I find the iPhone overpriced as it is.
"Made in America" means nothing to me, other than a price what, 4 time higher?
I'd like to watch the lines of people buying that.
I figured I would see a post like this. THE FACIST CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS TO BLAME NOT APPLE.
Do your homework.
That's what I'm suspecting. Demand has never been higher than before and they're trying to rush the workers to meet the higher demand, so rather than do the right thing they're screwing Apple by allowing these obviously nicked and scratched iPhones pass QC in order the satisfy demand.
Design problems could be choosing wrong paint thickness or nearly impossible color shade. There could be process issues. Like with any outsourced manufacturing operation, only initial design can come from Cupertino, continuous improvement has to come from factory. So Foxconn knows what need to be fixed, but Apple has to agree and ready to take corrective action and also pay for it.
Foxconn being go to manufacturer for every American brand with so many electronic products, I doubt it is problem with them.
As usual American Inc is on top of the food chain in this country and they can blame anybody they choose, like American Airlines blaming customer spilling soda causing "aluminum" seats coming loose of "aluminum" tracks.
Their profit margin is absurd. They could take a hit.
I'm not saying they will, but it's one solution to this quality issue.
Honestly this has nothing to do with Apple. Foxconn and the upper management is the issue. Apple pays Foxconn x amount of dollars to make said product. Foxconn finds the cheapest labor in the world and puts them to work for pennies. Foxconn gets pissed at the workers if they don't get the product done right cause that comes out of Foxconn bottom line. So then that comes out of the workers pay.(which is not right) Apple uses Foxconn because they have the lowest bid and can pump the product out fast. Not Apples fault at all. IT IS FOXCONN that is the issue.
Wait, Foxconn finds the cheapest labor in the world? How exactly do you think Apple found Foxconn? Because Apple was looking for cheap labor. That's why any company who makes anything in China makes it in China.
I find it hard to blame Foxconn fully. Tim Cook has totally pushed the envelope in terms of production with both the iPad 3 and iPhone 5. He is straining his suppliers and manufacturers to the max, in the name of blanketing the planet with Apple products. He could bring some of that manufacturing home. He has not so far.
I expect this is not the last time we will hear about revolt at Foxconn.