suppliers

Apple today took steps to add more transparency to the way it makes its products, including the human labor involved.

The company published its latest progress report (PDF) detailing its auditing practices, while saying that it increased the number of audits by 80 percent compared to what it did in 2010.

Apple said that it addressed the issue of underage labor, and managed to get cases of it "down significantly." However the company said that there were still six active cases, and 13 past cases of it taking place at its component suppliers, but not in the suppliers … Read more

Production of the iPad may have been at least temporarily affected by an explosion today at a yet-to-open factory in China.

The blast, which occurred at a plant belonging to Pegatron subsidiary Riteng in Shanghai, injured as many as 61 people, according to a Reuters report. The explosion didn't cause a fire, but 23 workers needed to be hospitalized. Machinery was also reportedly damaged.

"The factory has not started operations yet. Part of the facility is still under pre-operation inspection and part is running trial production," Pegatron Chief Financial Officer Charles Lin told Reuters.

Production of current … Read more

Using post-consumer materials and finding more energy-efficient ways to produce vehicles are just part of Ford Motor Co.'s strategy to reduce the company's global carbon footprint.

Ford is looking at the energy use and carbon emissions of 128 global suppliers. These suppliers account for nearly 60 percent of the company's $65 billion in annual purchases.

In 2010, the automaker surveyed 35 top suppliers that make seats, steering systems, tires, and metal components. What Ford discovered was how much the companies varied in their readiness to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the 2010 survey results, … Read more

A Taipei-based technology news site has been publishing a steady stream of flak centered on Intel's Ultrabook laptop strategy. Intel counters, however, that this is little more than rumor and speculation.

Over the last week or so, DigiTimes has been offering up almost a daily dose of grievances, seemingly emanating from that region's suppliers, including ODMs (original design manufacturers) and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

For example, on its front door as of Tuesday night PT, the publication has three articles critical of Intel's Ultrabook strategy.

The Ultrabook is defined roughly as an ultraportable laptop under 0.8 … Read more

Chinese environmental groups have accused Apple of turning a blind eye as its suppliers pollute the country, the latest criticism of the technology company's environmental record.

Toxic discharges from "suspected Apple suppliers" have been encroaching on local communities and environments, a coalition of environmental organizations said today in a 46-page report alleging efforts to conceal pollution.

Widespread environmental degradation has accompanied China's breakneck economic growth, and the government has been criticized for failing to take steps to curb pollution.

"The large volume of discharge in Apple's supply chain greatly endangers the public's health and safety," said the report, issued on the Web site of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.

The report alleges that 27 suspected Apple suppliers had severe pollution problems, from toxic gases to heavy metal sludge. In one case, the report said, a nearby village experienced a "phenomenal rise in cases of cancer."

Apple has decided to "take advantage of loopholes" in developing countries' environmental management systems to "grab super profits," it said. … Read more

Rightcontrol Lite is an intuitive program that allows users to track inventory and sales. Although this free version of the program is practically useless, it offers a preview of what could potentially be a very helpful program.

The program's interface is plain and well-organized, with graphical buttons that represent each of its major functions. Users create databases of customers and suppliers, enter their inventory, and then use the software to manage purchasing, ring up sales, and create invoices. The program also allows users to create and print bar codes. The program comes with a 31-page PDF manual that is … Read more

Twenty-six operators are committed to the long-term evolution 4G standard, according to research released this week by the Global Mobile Suppliers Association. While the forum for GSM and 3G suppliers worldwide decidedly has a stake in promoting LTE, the number indicates growing momentum for the standard, which promises download data rates of at least 100Mbps.

Fierce competition has arisen to become the world's first LTE operator in an arena regarded as the next generation of mobile phone service and a huge draw for customers.

Ten network operators are ready to launch their networks by 2010, according to the report. … Read more