Ries
Diamond
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2004
- Location
- Edison Washington USA
There is an article in today's NYT about Apple attempting to make computers here- and how they couldnt get locally made screws.
Like most of this type of article, its written by somebody who doesnt really understand what they are writing about- so it leaves out a lot of the crucial facts.
But it seems to imply that, in relatively small quantities (30,000 pieces) they simply could not get a screw made in Texas. The shop they eventually used, Caldwell Manufacturing, could not make the exact screw that they have no problem getting customs of in China.
My guess is that is was pentalobe head, which would require a particular small broach- but I dont know that for sure.
But the overall point of the article is that in China, not only can you get anything you want made, you can get it quickly, cheaply, and changed to order right away.
I know that, in the seventies, when I worked in the loudspeaker manufacturing business, there were plants in Chicago that would make any part we wanted, and ship us customs within 2 weeks for most things. That capacity long ago moved to China.
But that was relatively more complicated stuff- custom stampings, custom cast magnets, or nonwoven fabric parts felted over custom molds.
This article is about simple flathead screws.
If we really cant make those- we ARE in trouble.
A Tiny Screw Shows Why iPhones Won’t Be ‘Assembled in U.S.A.’ - The New York Times
Like most of this type of article, its written by somebody who doesnt really understand what they are writing about- so it leaves out a lot of the crucial facts.
But it seems to imply that, in relatively small quantities (30,000 pieces) they simply could not get a screw made in Texas. The shop they eventually used, Caldwell Manufacturing, could not make the exact screw that they have no problem getting customs of in China.
My guess is that is was pentalobe head, which would require a particular small broach- but I dont know that for sure.
But the overall point of the article is that in China, not only can you get anything you want made, you can get it quickly, cheaply, and changed to order right away.
I know that, in the seventies, when I worked in the loudspeaker manufacturing business, there were plants in Chicago that would make any part we wanted, and ship us customs within 2 weeks for most things. That capacity long ago moved to China.
But that was relatively more complicated stuff- custom stampings, custom cast magnets, or nonwoven fabric parts felted over custom molds.
This article is about simple flathead screws.
If we really cant make those- we ARE in trouble.
A Tiny Screw Shows Why iPhones Won’t Be ‘Assembled in U.S.A.’ - The New York Times