Apple is speeding its efforts to automate iPhone assembly line. However, this means potential job cuts for thousands of workers. According to a new report from The Information, the Cupertino giant has instructed managers to reduce the workforce on final assembly lines by as much as 50% over the next few years.
According to the new report, Apple’s decision to automate assembly lines and the potential job cuts associated with this move comes after violent clashes between iPhone workers and police in China in 2022. It has raised concerns about working conditions within Apple’s supply chain. However, the report suggests the move towards automation was also motivated by a desire to potentially reduce costs.
Apple has previously shelved automation projects due to high initial investments. However, the recent push seems to prioritise these projects, even though the machinery can cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
According to an Apple Supply Chain report, it is seen a decline in Apple’s monitored workforce at manufacturing partners, dropping from 1.6 million in 2022 to 1.4 million in 2023 due to automation.
The focus of automation efforts seems to be on the final assembly stage, with Apple’s Peter Thompson leading the team. His team has collaborated with partners like Foxconn and Pegatron and has already automated tasks like installing brackets and circuit boards. These advancements have reportedly dropped thousands of assembly line positions in China.
