Trump to Apple: Make the iPhone in the U.S., not China

mashable.com ^ | 01/04/2019 | Matt Binder

[dhs12345]

An iPhone is a very high volume assembly and automation is a necessity. But you would have only one product or very similar products so automation would be beneficial.

The circuit board assembly is a known quantity and can be automated but you would need several lines.

The challenge would be the enclosure assembly which might have to be done manually but with lots of assemblers... unless you could automate that too.

If you have ever taken an iPhone apart, it is a complicated mechanical assembly that almost necessitates a human being. But maybe this can be automated?

And then there is the supply chain — massive number of parts and lots of money invested to keep the line moving.

Also, the factory would have to be dedicated to this one product. No diversity.