Foxconn spokesperson Louis Woo told The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) that Foxconn will automate its assembly factories with “the best robots in the business” as a supplement to human labor. During a recent shareholders meeting, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou noted that automated workers will perform many of the “monotonous, repetitive tasks” that are currently handled by low-paid employees.
Automation lowers assembly costs, and Computer World’s Patrick Thibodeau recently theorized that Apple’s US-based Mac manufacturing would be a “robot city,” citing clips in promotional videos and a conversation with Larry Sweet, the CTO of Symbotic, as evidence.
Additionally, Foxconn announced plans to expand its operations to the US just last week. A plant on American soil would certainly eliminate supply chain issues.
As long as Foxconn’s new robotic employees aren’t stamped “Greystone Industries,” we should be good.
[Via The Verge]
Foxconn automates workforce prior to US expansion originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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