Apple plans to replace 50% of iPhone final assembly workers with automation

The Information has published a report detailing Apple's efforts to automate iPhone production. According to the report, Apple has asked Foxconn to ramp up hiring for the iPhone 14, while also telling managers to reduce the number of workers on the iPhone's final assembly lines by 50% in the coming years.

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This decision was made after the confrontations in November 2022. In order to reduce headcount, Apple is stepping up automation projects that were previously frozen due to high upfront costs. This includes the installation of metal brackets and flexible printed circuit boards without human intervention.

Already, Apple has successfully automated much of the iPhone 15 assembly process by working with partners such as Foxconn, Luxshare Precision, and Pegatron. This has allowed the company to reduce the number of employees in China by thousands. In addition, Apple acquired Drishti to analyse video from assembly lines and identify production problems in real time.

The Information also indicates that Apple's plans to automate the installation of buttons and other components of the iPhone 16 have been cancelled due to the high level of defects, but the company continues to work on this initiative.

Source: The Information