Even Apple might not be able to avoid supply chain issues.
The company may be facing issues with its multilayer ceramic capacitor suppliers, wherein the COVID-19 pandemic has caused there to be a constricted supply of the important component used throughout the electronics industry.
Murata Manufacturing, the world’s biggest producer of MLCCs, closed a factory in the last week of August because of a COVID-19 outbreak. The company, which accounts for 40 percent of the global supply of the component, reported 98 cases in its biggest plant in Fukui, Japan.
Supplier Taiyo Yuden Co also encountered related issues in August according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited a Malaysian government requirement to operate with only 60 percent of its workforce. The preventative measure has led to the manufacturer to scale back its production to just over 80 percent capacity.
Both Murata and Taiyo Yuden feature on Apple’s supplier list. It’s unknown which products might be affected by the shortage. MLCCs are tiny capacitors with their performance and size making them ideal for space-limited electronics like an iPhone. A modern smartphone with 5G connectivity may contain more than 1,000 of the components.
Taiyo Yuden’s reduced output could imply that the company might take an extra five to ten days to deliver orders, on top of of the usual 45 to 55 days. This is in part due to the need to find vaccinated truck drivers, and to work through increased cargo flight procedures.
Murata’s issues may worsen in the future, with the Phillippines apparently seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. A spokesperson said factories in the region are operating normally.
It’s thought that the shortage is likely to have a major impact on Apple’s supply chain, as the global semiconductor crisis is considered to be the bigger threat for the moment.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and the Wall Street Journal