Foxconn to Use More Robots to Replace Workers in Next Three Years

Your next iPhone could be assembled with even more robot hands, according to the latest report from Xinhua News Agency. Taiwanese-based Foxconn, the maker of Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad will be introducing robots to replace the work of physical labour over the next three years:

Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn will replace some of its workers with 1 million robots in three years to cut rising labor expenses and improve efficiency, said Terry Gou, founder and chairman of the company, late Friday.

The robots will be used to do simple and routine work such as spraying, welding and assembling which are now mainly conducted by workers, said Gou at a workers’ dance party Friday night

We last heard of Foxconn improving their yield and production rates to prevent contracts from leaving to their competitors. It was reported Apple placed an order for 15 million iPhone 5 units with rival Pegatron Technology.

Currently, the company employs 10,000 robots but that will grow to 300,000 over the next year, and 1 million in three years according to their founder. Foxconn has been in the media spotlight due to harsh working conditions, with worker suicides plaguing their factories in China.

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