Join Renaud on a journey into the fascinating world of electronics manufacturing and how Apple's strategic moves in China transformed it. Our episode is inspired by the book "Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company," a book by journalist Patrick McGee, who offers a well-researched exploration of how Apple inadvertently established an advanced electronics industry in China.

You will discover how Apple's relentless pursuit of excellence and zero defects not only influenced its contract manufacturers but also propelled the entire electronics supply chain into rapid development. Through countless interactions and challenges over the decades, Apple played a pivotal role in elevating Chinese manufacturers' capabilities, setting the stage for China's dominance in the electronics industry today.

01:01 – About the Author & Context

02:05 – Premise of the Book

03:06 – From In-House to Outsourcing in China

04:32 – Apple’s Manufacturing Weakness in the 1980s

06:09 – Canon Printers & Apple’s Foothold in Publishing

08:12 – Outsourcing Risks: Sharp’s PDA & OEM-ODM Transition

11:05 – Shift from Japan to Taiwan

13:13 – iMac Development & DFM Challenges

16:11 – Upskilling Manufacturers Through Pressure & Innovation

18:18 – Problems with LG & Lessons in Control

21:01 – Foxconn’s Rise & Apple’s Trust Transfer

24:01 – China Joins the WTO & the Manufacturing Boom

26:01 – China's Superpower: Speed, Scale, Compliance

28:01 – Apple’s Embedded Control Over Manufacturing

31:01 – “Chinification” & Why It’s So Hard to Leave Now

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