– Foxconn Sees New Source Of Cheap Labor: The United States (Forbes, Nov 8, 2012):
Foxconn Electronics – the China-based contract electronics manufacturer also known as Hon Hai – is planning to build manufacturing plants in the U.S., DigiTimes reports, in a story attributed to “market watchers.”
The company is reportedly evaluating “cites such as Detroit and Los Angeles.”
The story says that “since the manufacturing of Apple‘s products is rather complicated, the market watchers expect the rumored plants to focus on LCD TV production, which can be highly automated and easier.”
Nice to think they will be hiring here…but still a fascinating insult to U.S. manufacturing prowess, dontcha think – the idea that actually making Apple products is a little too complicated for Americans to handle…
The story notes that Foxconn chairman Terry Guo noted at a recent event that the company is planning a training program for U.S.-based engineers, bringing them to Taiwan or China to take part in the processes of product design and manufacturing. According to DigiTimes, Gou said the program will give the engineers an environment to learn the Chinese language and first-hand experience in the manufacturing process. The story says Foxconn is in discussion with Massachusetts Institute of Technology over such a program.
No word on whether Foxconn plans to house U.S. employees in corporate-owned dormitories.