4 ms·

Apple could make iPhones in U.S.

25 points by spking 10y ago

andrewjl 10y ago
Even if this happens, it's likely that the assembly work will be automated. Very few manufacturing jobs will result from this.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
davidf18 10y ago
First iPhones, then iPads, then MacBooks and Macs. Part of this depends on how much of the suppliers are moved to the states. For example TSMC and Samsung could fabricate in the US. TSMC fabs the iPhone/iPad processor as well as the Qualcomm chips in the iPhone, for example.
- robotresearcher 10y ago
  The small cylindrical MacPros have been made at least partly in Texas since their introduction. So Macs first, not last.
- onedognight 10y ago
  Intel recently announced that they would start fabbng ARM chips. Intel also now makes the modem in the GSM iPhone 7. There is clearly a path there.
WhitneyLand 10y ago
If part of the problem is a cluster of suppliers close together why not negotiate with Nevada like Tesla did? Apple could buy enough land for an entire city pretty cheaply and lease it back to strategic suppliers. The labor part of the problem - not sure why it's such a large part of the cost. Maybe the machinery to automate does not exist or is cost prohibitive?
- coldtea 10y ago
  >The labor part of the problem - not sure why it's such a large part of the cost It's not. At least according to this, which seems well informed: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?_r=1&ref=charlesduhigg&pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and...
dilemma 10y ago
The potential for labor cost arbitrage is disappearing as China scales the value chain, its nominal wages increase, the yuan appreciates and purchasing power increases, all the while the US and EU see decreased real wages. A moderate increase in manufacturing technology turns employees into controllers rather than workers, increase's productivity and so makes manufacturing feasible in the EU and US.

4 ms·

Apple could make iPhones in U.S.

25 points by spking 10y ago

andrewjl 10y ago
Even if this happens, it's likely that the assembly work will be automated. Very few manufacturing jobs will result from this.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
davidf18 10y ago
First iPhones, then iPads, then MacBooks and Macs. Part of this depends on how much of the suppliers are moved to the states. For example TSMC and Samsung could fabricate in the US. TSMC fabs the iPhone/iPad processor as well as the Qualcomm chips in the iPhone, for example.
- robotresearcher 10y ago
  The small cylindrical MacPros have been made at least partly in Texas since their introduction. So Macs first, not last.
- onedognight 10y ago
  Intel recently announced that they would start fabbng ARM chips. Intel also now makes the modem in the GSM iPhone 7. There is clearly a path there.
WhitneyLand 10y ago
If part of the problem is a cluster of suppliers close together why not negotiate with Nevada like Tesla did? Apple could buy enough land for an entire city pretty cheaply and lease it back to strategic suppliers. The labor part of the problem - not sure why it's such a large part of the cost. Maybe the machinery to automate does not exist or is cost prohibitive?
- coldtea 10y ago
  >The labor part of the problem - not sure why it's such a large part of the cost It's not. At least according to this, which seems well informed: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?_r=1&ref=charlesduhigg&pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and...
dilemma 10y ago
The potential for labor cost arbitrage is disappearing as China scales the value chain, its nominal wages increase, the yuan appreciates and purchasing power increases, all the while the US and EU see decreased real wages. A moderate increase in manufacturing technology turns employees into controllers rather than workers, increase's productivity and so makes manufacturing feasible in the EU and US.