The Man Who Makes Your Iphone

[Neil]

I just read a great interview of Foxconn founder Terry Gou.  Foxconn, as most of you will remember is the Chinese company that makes Iphones and had a brutal run of 8 or 9 suicides in a relatively short period of time. 

If you'd like to read the story of how he created one of the biggest electronics manufacturing companies on Earth and how he continues to expand while dealing with a massive labor force, here's the link:  http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/10_38/b4195058423479.htm

[Mikael_Shim]

I havent read the article yet, but i will in a bit.

An interesting sidenote about Foxconn that im sure many doesnt know is that its extremely common to find plenty of stuff inside HP computers
that have Foxconn id´s. Even the highend server stuff has.

[Peter]

I read the article Neil and it was a awful reading. I also read a comment that the suicide rate is very high in China among factory workers.. Most of them commit suicide at the factory.....

Terrible..

[Mikael_Shim]

Peter, actually. If you take a look at how many people Foxconn employs VS the suicides. The percentage is not that extreme. I can think of alot more places where people right out die, connected with hazards in their work.

Also, i think the suicide rates at Foxconn dropped with 30-40% from last year.  Anyways, its terrible that anyone at all would commit suicide due to hes/her work.

[Jimmy]

My favorite quote in the entire Article

Gou envisions a fully automated plant to produce components within five years. "If I can automate in the U.S.A. and ship to China, cost-wise it can still be competitive," he says. "But I worry America has too many lawyers. I don't want to spend time having people sue me every day."

[Martin]

My wife used to work at Foxconn...I guess her choices were pretty grim...commit suicide or marry me.  i wonder if she made the right choice? 

[ttwjr32]

that just goes to show you Martin people do make mistakes

[Mikael_Shim]

Speaking of Iphones. Have anyone of you any experience with the "china clones"?  Airphone 4G (also known under china brand as Sciphone i68 4GS), Airphone 4G Mini, Hiphone 4G ? Or the Android Ipad clones Apad, and E-Pad?