O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: reopen

  • Foxconn’s Shenzhen plant resumes production after

    Foxconn’s Shenzhen plant resumes production after

    The good news is that Foxconn’s Shenzhen, China manufacturing plant is resuming production following a partial lifting of the city-wide lockdown that was initiated on Monday.

    The Taiwanese company told Reuters it had restarted some production and operations at its Shenzhen campus after meeting government conditions for staff to live and work in bubble arrangements and adopting a “closed-loop management” system.

    It’s unknown as to which Apple products Foxconn produces at its two Shenzhen plants, although Foxconn is the largest maker of the iPhone. Manufacturers in Guangdong province, home to Shenzhen, said factory shutdowns have caused lags in deliveries, while logistical difficulties were making it harder to ship goods to overseas customers.

    Foxconn on Wednesday stated that 2022 would be “challenging” for the supply chain and forecast up to a three percent shortfall in revenue for the year as a shortage of chips squeezes smartphone production and the pandemic shows no sign of easing in China.

    Apple said the chip shortage cost it $6 billion in the last quarter of 2021, but predictions remained bullish for this year despite these strains on the global supply chain. That’s despite Foxconn’s warnings that the chip shortage is expected to run into the second half of 2022.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Reuters

  • Apple to reopen some U.S. retail locations that were closed again after COVID-19 surge

    Apple has apparently begun informing retail store employees of its plan to open some Apple Store retail locations that have been closed twice over due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While there’s no exact word of which locations will be reopening at this time, employees have been informed to expect imminent store openings this week. Following the initial COVID-19 lockdown, Apple began reopening locations back in May, but shuttered them again in late June and early July as outbreaks spiked.

    As with other store locations that have reopened or remained open amid the pandemic, Apple is implementing safety measures. Masks will be required inside the store and the number of people allowed inside the store at one time will be limited to allow for social distancing.

    Apple currently conducts temperature checks, but has also rearranged stores to retain distance between employees, and conducts frequent cleanings. The majority of the stores that will be reopening will operate on an appointment-only basis for the immediate future, according to sources close to the story.

    Over the last few months, Apple has been forced to close down more than 100 of its retail locations. During the closures, retail employees have been reassigned to online sales and support positions. Reassigned workers will remain in those roles at the current time, but Apple has warned that they could be moved back to their retail stores based on the needs of each individual location.

    The company is said to be gearing up for fall product launches, which will include the debut of new iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, Macs, and more.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Chinese Apple Store locations, Foxconn plants, “cautiously” reopening in wake of coronavirus outbreak

    Apple is trying to get things up and running again in China following the coronavirus outbreak and the forced closure of iPhone assembler Foxconn’s main assembly plant.

    Apple, in turn, has announced that it will be “cautiously” resuming production in its main iPhone manufacturing plants.

    Foxconn announced that it is cautiously reopening its plants, but has yet to offer to offer an explanation of what that means or precisely what constitutes its main facilities.

    However, as far as Apple production is concerned, the major facilities are at Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, with the latter responsible for the majority of iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro assembly. Previously, Foxconn was reported to be working on restoring production to half-strength at these plants by the end of February.

    Apple has apparently reopened additional Apple Store locations in the area, bringing the number to 17 out of the region’s 42. Each store is currently operating under “special business hours,” which include reduced opening hours as well as crowd control and temperature checks at entrances.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Reuters