The NY Times has published a captivating piece on "How U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work". If you own an iPhone or not, you should read the in-depth article in its entirety.
The piece is based on more than three dozen interviews with current and former Apple employees and contractors — most who gave their input under the agreement of anonymity to protect their jobs.
An excellent video feature produced for the piece (below), explains how the decline of manufacturing can ultimately lead to the loss of other kinds of jobs, a factor that has become apparent in the American economy right now.
Apple is quick to defend their strategy of outsourcing the bulk of manufacturing jobs overseas citing; “The speed and flexibility is breathtaking,” one Apple executive said about Foxconn. “There’s no American plant that can match that.”
“We shouldn’t be criticized for using Chinese workers,” a current Apple executive said. “The U.S. has stopped producing people with the skills we need.” Source - NYT
Well said K.E.N. Apple's amazing success will draw a critical eye, especially with the economic pressure in the U.S.
The focus is not put on how much work Apple is bringing to the U.S. through retail and corporate, but rather on what they're not doing. Typical.
Posted by: Ray Basile - The iPhone Savior | January 22, 2012 at 01:57 PM
This is a brilliant article. USA doesn't invest in all the supply chain. So, soon all those big companies will only have commercial offices there...
Posted by: Fabio Neves de Brito | January 22, 2012 at 01:44 PM
If you want to talk about Apple's production being relocated to the US you can't single them out. You also have to include Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, etc.
The entire supply chain is in China! From the case makers to the glass makers to the wiring to the little buttons.
Simply put, all the pieces are already there. Need to change the specs? Give it a day! Here in the states? We can no longer come close to competing.
You would have to relocate the entire industry by force! Uncomfortable facts but true. But at least apple makes a nice scapegoat, eh?
Posted by: K.E.N. | January 22, 2012 at 01:34 PM