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Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly

Wednesday October 17, 2012 7:04 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Following word that increased quality control standards for the iPhone 5 assembly process have slowed Foxconn's production and increased stress on workers, The Wall Street Journal shares comments from an unnamed Foxconn executive explaining the difficulty in assembling the device.
“The iPhone 5 is the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled. To make it light and thin, the design is very complicated,” said an official at the company who declined to be named. “It takes time to learn how to make this new device. Practice makes perfect. Our productivity has been improving day by day.”
The executive also addressed the scratching issues that have reportedly been the cause of the increased quality control standards, noting that it is "always hard to satisfy both aesthetic needs and practical needs."


Completed teardown of iPhone 5 (Source: iFixit)

The executive also acknowledged tensions between production line staff and quality control inspectors, but declined to offer additional information on the situation that was initially reported as a strike by several thousand workers but later denied by Foxconn.

[ 127 comments ]


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Tobias Funke
85 months ago

Having inexperienced 14 year old kids on the assembly lines doesn't help either.


Did you see this when you visited the factory yourself ??
Rating: 18 Votes
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Lifequest
85 months ago
While I do not condone child labour, the conditions at factories are at least humane. There is opportunity. Not every country is as fortunate as many of us; sitting where we are. Developing nations are developing.

While we sit on our high horse of justice, fail to see the true effects of our demands. What if that 14 year old's family couldn't afford an education. The problem stems much deeper than a simple employer-employee relationship.
What if, just what if, the 14 year old child that you indirectly-fired by your out cries has now cost that family there whole income. Mum is sick and dad has left her before she could even walk.

Before I get insulted and attacked, please just watch this talk from TED:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_kristine_glimpses_of_modern_day_slavery.html

Please focus your efforts on real problems, not those brought to the surface by front page coverage on newspapers.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Marcus-k
85 months ago

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


Why would he have to visit the factory? Foxconn has recently confirmed themselves that they have underage workers.
Rating: 9 Votes
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eldaria
85 months ago
Plastic Film

Other manufacturers put a plastic film as protection during manufacturing, usually the first thing you peal of your electronics when you get them.
Rating: 8 Votes
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juanmanas
85 months ago
yep

Having inexperienced 14 year old kids on the assembly lines doesn't help either.


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...
Rating: 8 Votes
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Ciclismo
85 months ago
Having inexperienced 14 year old kids on the assembly lines doesn't help either.
Rating: 7 Votes
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scottwaugh
85 months ago

Having inexperienced 14 year old kids on the assembly lines doesn't help either.


While Foxconn shouldn't have been doing this - it wasn't at a factory that did Apple product assembly (Foxconn makes stuff for many companies, Microsoft etc.).
Rating: 7 Votes
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dolph0291
85 months ago

Having inexperienced 14 year old kids on the assembly lines doesn't help either.


I live in México and there are 14-year old kids working in the tortilla factory next door. Call the cops! And boycott their tortillas!
Rating: 7 Votes
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bmunge
85 months ago

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.


Yeah that's not at all accurate. The iPhone's precision and size doesn't allow for automated assembly. If they could make them with machines they would. Apple would be much happier not worrying about labor standards, strikes, and the bad press it gets from its human assembly force.
Rating: 6 Votes
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downpour
85 months ago

Foxconn Executive Speaks to Difficulty of iPhone 5 Assembly


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
Rating: 5 Votes

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