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What is the production processes used by the Apple and what certifications does Apple carry such as ISO 9000, etc. What equipment or facilities would Apple need to purchase to begin producing iPhones in India at scale?
Hello and thank you for asking Wonder! I understand that you are seeking production processes, certifications, and equipment or facilities necessary for producing iPhones at scale in India. The most helpful sources I found were Apple's own site and an article from The Next Web. In short, Apple's manufacturing is highly specialized. As such, there is not a lot of data on their exact production processes, but when manufactured, they are tested and designs are tweaked. The parts come from all over the world. A major piece of equipment is a robotic worker, which they are getting more of. Apple's certifications are not global, but usually in a few countries, such as the ISO 14040 in Germany. Below, you will find additional details.
PRODUCTION PROCESSES
A report from 2012 (a more recent one was unavailable) details the production process for their different products, including the iPhone. Everything starts at the design stage, which has no financial constrictions. Next, a specific team is set-up for the product, that is kept away and secret from the rest of the company, essentially acting as its own start-up. This team then creates an ANPP (Apple New Product Plan). This plan details and documents the entire production process. Once the product is reviewed (within 2-weeks), an engineering manager and supply manager are assigned. They work to create the entire production line, which then builds and tests the product. There are many products tested, as designs are tweaked and retested.
There are additional details about the iPhone specifically in another article. Apple sources all of its parts from around the globe. These are then sent to one of their 3rd party manufacturers, many of which they are the largest client for. They manufacture and assemble the phones, and they are then sent to distribution centers.
An older report makes a point to mention that Apple keeps most details about its exact production process, including equipment, very secret. However, it is said that there are 141 steps necessary to make an iPhone.
CERTIFICATIONS
Apple has a few different certifications, though not globally. One example their "ISO 14000 environmental management standards: ISO 14040 and 14044" in Germany. They also have the ISO 14001 in Ireland, which they first achieved in 1996, as well as a few other places. This "standard helps a company manage the environmental impact of its operations in a systematic way that is integrated with overall business management processes". At least at one point, Apple Operations Europe held the ISO 9001:2008 standard. However, this expired in 2014 and there is nothing showing that they renewed it.
EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES
Apple needs a lot of specialized equipment to manufacture iPhones, which they put a lot of money into. In 2013, for example, they spent $10.5 billion to create new technology for manufacturing, though this was not exclusively for the iPhone. Unlike most other technology companies, Apple designs much of its own equipment for manufacturing, as they have very specialized needs. This information is kept very secret for the most part. They do not reveal much of what is used, but one specific machine is to test the gyroscope of the iPhone for accuracy and another is assembly robots (some known as foxbots). These foxbots are becoming a larger and larger part of the factories' "workforce". Facilities include manufacturing plants, warehousing, and distribution.
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Overall, Apple keeps most of its production process secret, but they seek parts from all across the world, which are then assembled in different manufacturing plants. The major certifications that Apple has are ISO 14040 and 14044, which are environmental standards. Apple's equipment is very specialized and not publicized, but there is mention of a special machine built to test the gyroscope of the iPhone, as well as a large increase in robotics.
Thank you for asking Wonder! Please let us know if we can help you with anything else!