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If you look at the back of any iPhone, you're likely to come across the words, "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." Indeed, from the very first generation iPhone to the latest iPhone 4S, the world's most popular smartphone have come to be made in China and not in the U.S. An analysis, based on interviews with Apple's former and current executives and employees at Apple's supply chains and manufacturing experts by The New York Times, has now revealed why the world's most admired, feared and imitated technology company does not believe that its products, especially the iPhone, can be "Made in U.S.A."
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According to the report, here are the behind stories for iPhone's innovative design, which changed IT history, which made Steve Jobs become a legend.
"I want a glass screen, and I want it perfect in six weeks"
In 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs had called iPhone developers angrily to his office with just a few weeks left to launch the iPhone. He wanted to give them his feedback on the prototype of the first generation iPhone he was carrying in his pocket. Job's feedback was not praise for the device but criticism.
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What Job pulled out of his pocket was the iPhone prototype, which showed dozens of tiny scratches on its plastic screen. He also pulled out his keys from his pocket. Jobs pointed out that people usually carry their keys and phone together in their pockets as he does too.
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"I won't sell a product that gets scratched," Jobs said. The only solution was using unscratchable glass instead. "I want a glass screen, and I want it perfect in six weeks," he said tersely.
To the people who listened to Jobs, it was a seemingly impossible solution as using glass for cellphone display requires precise cutting and grinding. That is why many cellphone makers had avoided using glass for years.
Moreover, the iPhone was scheduled for launch barely weeks away. It was a do-or-die situation as Jobs was a man who did not compromise. Urgently, one Apple executive booked a flight to Shenzhen, China.
Perfect Re-Design Was Possible with Perfect Flexibility and Speed
It was in the middle of night when the first truckload of cut glasses arrived at Foxconn city with the re-designed glass screen for iPhone. Apple engineers had been tinkering with the glass screen for weeks.
Suddenly, the light in the factory was turned on.
"A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company’s dormitories, according to the executive. Each employee was given a biscuit and a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant was producing over 10,000 iPhones a day," NYT reported.
This is how one million iPhone could be sold within three months.
Foxconn City: Skilled Workers and Diligence
