Apple’s exacting standards cause headaches for suppliers

Apple’s manufacturing partnerships with Foxconn and Samsung are well-known, and equally well documented, but when it comes to the small details, the company relies on a vast network of other suppliers. An article from San Jose Mercury News sheds light on Apple’s attention to detail, from capacitive adhesive types to chemical coatings for circuit boards. It also reveals a ruthless streak that Mercury says has led to a love / hate relationship between Apple and its partners — inquiring about a new manufacturing requirement, an Apple employee is cited as saying: “can you do it? If not, I will go to another supplier.”