I wish all Chinese products were made with this care.

[TheElectricChicken]

...ahem... anyone have any thoughts on the current Chinese devaluation of the yuan? on Chinese products of course... Will they be made with more care or less now that the managers have to pay more for their imported luxury cars and stuff?  ... back on track

It will have no effect on the 9 year olds who make them. They don't drive the luxury cars. Same as luxury jets don't effect minimum wage at walmart, or the number of walmart shootings.

[Macbeth]

It will have no effect on the 9 year olds who make them. They don't drive the luxury cars. Same as luxury jets don't effect minimum wage at walmart, or the number of walmart shootings.

So no difference in the number of skydivers at the Foxconn factory? got it...

^{(Sorry Lightages, I tried...)}

[helius]

I am interested in talking about Chinese manufacturing, not the boring and cliché stuff that derailed this thread.

At 4:00 in the first video, I see an HP 8922M gsm test set. I wasn't able to identify the electric torque drivers in that part of the video, can anybody do that? At 7:11, what is this machine for? Testing lanyards?

Some notes about the production of the video: at first I thought that "propaganda" is the wrong word, we just call this type of communication Public/Consumer Relations. Why should the Politburo be interested in one small phone manufacturer? But there are some details of the production that are strange. The narrator is obviously Russian and I wonder why they were chosen, is there some political reason? The "Gadgets From China" logo is quite jocose with its fu manchu coolie and does seem to be directed toward an export market with old-fashioned ideas about Chinese people. And the remarks about "assembly is so easy it can be done by ignorant peasants who work for pennies" is curious because those with political responsibilities in the country of origin do themselves no favors by speaking in that way. I wonder if the video is really produced by a Russian-affiliated importer or marketing group.

The contrast with the Moto X video is also really striking, both factories are performing the same task, but the efficiency and NRE control is so much better in the Chinese case.

[Lightages]

Yeah, I found the comment about working for pennies to be a bit strange. The accent isn't Russian, I don't think. She sounds Chinese to me. The apparent chaos in the Texas plant seemed rather distracting from getting things done. On the other hand the Chinese factory was probably closely monitored for proper work behavior. There has to be a happy medium to be found between the two.

[hendorog]

At 7:11, what is this machine for? Testing lanyards?

Testing the USB charge cables can handle being flexed.
One end is clamped at the top and the other is pulled down by a weight at the bottom.

[janekm]

I am interested in talking about Chinese manufacturing, not the boring and cliché stuff that derailed this thread.

At 4:00 in the first video, I see an HP 8922M gsm test set. I wasn't able to identify the electric torque drivers in that part of the video, can anybody do that? At 7:11, what is this machine for? Testing lanyards?

Some notes about the production of the video: at first I thought that "propaganda" is the wrong word, we just call this type of communication Public/Consumer Relations. Why should the Politburo be interested in one small phone manufacturer? But there are some details of the production that are strange. The narrator is obviously Russian and I wonder why they were chosen, is there some political reason? The "Gadgets From China" logo is quite jocose with its fu manchu coolie and does seem to be directed toward an export market with old-fashioned ideas about Chinese people. And the remarks about "assembly is so easy it can be done by ignorant peasants who work for pennies" is curious because those with political responsibilities in the country of origin do themselves no favors by speaking in that way. I wonder if the video is really produced by a Russian-affiliated importer or marketing group.

The contrast with the Moto X video is also really striking, both factories are performing the same task, but the efficiency and NRE control is so much better in the Chinese case.

Actually, I think the video was produced by some Russian phone traders (like you suspected), trying to show off one of the factories they're sourcing their phones from... The "propaganda" angle in this thread is quite hilarious to be honest

This factory is very much run-of-the-mill by Chinese factory standards, by the way.

[janekm]

At 4:00 in the first video, I see an HP 8922M gsm test set. I wasn't able to identify the electric torque drivers in that part of the video, can anybody do that? At 7:11, what is this machine for? Testing lanyards?

There are hundreds (thousands?) of different models of electric torque drivers produced by tool manufacturers in China... Underneath the apartment I stay in in Shenzhen there is a floor of tool shops, with several that specialise in torque drivers. So you basically just go to the shop keeper, tell them what you need and see what they recommend (a lot comes down to whether you want to save a few dollars or want a tool that lasts, and has decent tolerances). They're remarkably cheap btw, starting at around $10 for a set (power supply + driver). Good ones (like this one looks like) would start at maybe $60. Of course you can also buy the Japanese and German models but those don't come cheap

[helius]

What would the operating cost of this type of production be per unit? From the video it looks like ~80 workers per shift and the narrator says they produce 2000 smart phones a day. It's hard to know the phone price without specs, but 100 USD at wholesale would be believable.

[TheElectricChicken]

What would the operating cost of this type of production be per unit? ..........100 USD at wholesale would be believable.

Such a thing is too hard to work out. Many governments, many companies, many rich, many spies, they all want to know your every thought and every move. So smart phone to track you is very very cheap to buy. Last new mobiles I buy, I buy 6 for $50 brand new, new model just made. Subsidies everywhere because of spies make it difficult subject to understand.

[edit: I mean 6 for $7 per mobile phone, total $42, sorry to confuse]

[helius]

You may be right, but I wasn't specifically addressing subsidies in my query. Maybe the company can undercut its competitors if it receives a subsidy, but that won't affect its OPEX. That will be determined by the labor supply, training and turnover, number of assembly steps, how much testing, and so on.

[TheElectricChicken]

undercut its competitors if it receives a subsidy, but that won't affect its OPEX.

I don't mean one company gets a subsidy, I mean all manufacturers of smartphones everywhere get subsidies in one way or another, in the parts chain if need be, but to reduce the cost of the end phone to make specimens tag themselves rather than having aliens capture them and do it manually. (the government/spies/companies I mean)

yes, it won't effect the company OPEX (cost of operations)

[Macbeth]

Such a thing is too hard to work out. Many governments, many companies, many rich, many spies, they all want to know your every thought and every move. So smart phone to track you is very very cheap to buy. Last new mobiles I buy, I buy 6 for $50 brand new, new model just made. Subsidies everywhere because of spies make it difficult subject to understand.

You've got far more money than me. I could only afford the one Galaxy Note 4 and that 'aint cheap. I tell you what, I pity the poor government spy tasked with observing me 24/7. It must be very dull. Then again maybe they employ them from the reality TV addicts? As for every thought - perhaps you have some models of tin foil hat you recommend to stop that? 

[TheElectricChicken]

Last new mobiles I buy, I buy 6 for $50 brand new, new model just made.

You've got far more money than me.

NO NO, I apologize because I confuse everyone. $50 TOTAL. $7 per mobile telephone, new, radio, mp3, dual sim, everything. $7 each. I buy half a dozen for $7 each so I can have enough for the washing machine to wash for two years, and to sit on and break, and can't find.

[knks]

Where do you get $7 phone?

[AF6LJ]

Working in China means at least you can afford to buy good Chinese food to eat. Conditions here equate to cancer and diabetes.

Keep away from the stir fry, I'm not sure that

will do you any good.

It certainly didn't for the journalist that exposed it. Apparently he was murdered by the Triads or Snakeheads, much like the chap who exposed the illegal milk scandal.

Reminds me of the crap that went on in this country in the beginning of the twentieth century.

[nctnico]

Nope, asian ladies always look young.

I can't help the big smile on my face 

[zapta]

Reminds me of the crap that went on in this country in the beginning of the twentieth century.

How early in the 20th century can you remember?

[Lord of nothing]

I don't recall many individuals being hunted down by China for peacemaking. In China you can argue with the police without risking your life. In USA, they regularly taser unconscious people and stroke victims.

Is there any place in the World who is safe?
In China you can executed for saying something against the Politics.
Sure many the People in the US are Stupid and US Cops are just Cowboys with a Gun.

You forget Germany. The learn nothing from the 2nd World War. The was in Afghanistan to Fight for the Freedom in Germany. 
The same what was in Poland ~70 Years ago. The allow that the Americans have an full Airbase and Airport where innocent "Prissoner" get to there Torture Camps.

much like the chap who exposed the illegal milk scandal.

So is there anything what the Chinese not Fake?

You only have to watch rt.com for a while to see all the real news that is suppressed in the USA and EU and AU. Saying there is free speech in any of these countries is bull$#%. You can't discuss anything. Plus the government is monitoring and spying on you all the time.

Sure and if you are from Germany or Austria the will call you an Nazi because you like your Country.

If government funding is bad, what about the BBC ?

haha you think the BBC is bad? You never watch the ORF (Austrian Government TV Company). Nobody say anything against any Politician or against the Former Government Company's.

[VK3DRB]

So is there anything what the Chinese not Fake?

Communism. It is the real deal, right? Classless society. Workers rights. Abolition of private property. Regional planning. The right to health care for all. Government controlled education. Equality for all. The government takes care of you.

Chinese communism is 100% fake. Their communist party leaders are fraudsters, selling a fake religion called communism.

[Lord of nothing]

When i hear the propaganda from the Americans the are quite the same in north Korea.