Foxconn & Pegatron kick off hiring early to cope with Apple's more complex 'iPhone 7' - report
Apple's two main assembly partners, Foxconn and Pegatron, are said to have begun extra hiring for iPhone production early this year, allegedly owing to the complexity of the "iPhone 7."
The manufacturers started recruiting at least a month earlier than usual, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily News, quoted by CNBC. In the case of Foxconn, it was reportedly the first time in two years that Foxconn began hiring in the Chinese mainland in May.
The extended time will be used not just to get a headstart on production, but to provide workers with the increased training needed to deal with Apple's design, EDN said.
It's not clear in what way the "iPhone 7" might be so complex as to require a longer production cycle, since the standard 4.7-inch model is expected to be largely similar to the iPhone 6s, albeit with better internals, relocated antenna bands, and the possibility of it ditching a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. If it is fully waterproof, as some rumors have claimed, that could be one explanation.
Another is the "7 Plus," which may have a dual-lens camera and even a Smart Connector on top of other improvements. Dual-lens cameras are still rare in the smartphone world, and Apple's Smart Connector format has so far only been used on the iPad Pro line.
The manufacturers started recruiting at least a month earlier than usual, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily News, quoted by CNBC. In the case of Foxconn, it was reportedly the first time in two years that Foxconn began hiring in the Chinese mainland in May.
The extended time will be used not just to get a headstart on production, but to provide workers with the increased training needed to deal with Apple's design, EDN said.
It's not clear in what way the "iPhone 7" might be so complex as to require a longer production cycle, since the standard 4.7-inch model is expected to be largely similar to the iPhone 6s, albeit with better internals, relocated antenna bands, and the possibility of it ditching a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. If it is fully waterproof, as some rumors have claimed, that could be one explanation.
Another is the "7 Plus," which may have a dual-lens camera and even a Smart Connector on top of other improvements. Dual-lens cameras are still rare in the smartphone world, and Apple's Smart Connector format has so far only been used on the iPad Pro line.
Comments
I mean, heck... Why is there still a 2-3 week wait for the SE?
Is Apple still “ramping-up” production on their 9 month old A9 processor? No? How about on their 4 year old case? No? Maybe it’s the anodized beveled edge vs. the polished beveled edge that has thrown them for a loop?
I doubt Foxconn is hiring extra people to handle the extreme boringness.
Seems pretty clear Apple underestimated demand for this product. Especially in countries outside of China.
It's far better to UNDER estimate demand for a new product than to OVER estimate it.
Just because you or the Apple hating media can't think of anything innovative doesn't mean Apple can't either.
I swear I read this every year: "The next iPhone won't have anything new besides specs".
Great. Please provide us with factors that will increase your chances of going to the bathroom.
Also add ultra performance, in-house designed 64-bit chips to that list. Competitors have yet to match series A performance after years of trying.
Apple has had to take a couple hundred million dollar write off in the past for overestimating and having to eat the cost of over production.
Cook has stated publicly Apple under estimated demand. That explains the delay.