As COVID-19 lockdown restrictions continue over in China, Apple supplier Quanta Computer has begun exploring options as to where to relocate its MacBook Pro production facilities. The notebooks are currently being produced in Shanghai, and Quanta is apparently looking to move that process to its factory in Chongqing, China in order to increase MacBook Pro production and ease supply constraints.
As mentioned before, the COVID-19 lockdowns in and around Shanghai have caused a severe shortage of new MacBook Pro computers. This has led to customers seeing delivery times for new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations estimated as far out as early August.
The supply constraint is because of ongoing plant closures in areas with elevated COVID-19 cases. The Chinese government implemented a zero tolerance policy for COVID-19 infections. This policy requires lockdowns whenever new cases of the novel coronavirus exceed a certain threshold.
Some suppliers, including iPhone assembler Foxconn, have been able to avoid supply constraints by using closed-loop models. Within these models, employees are kept from being exposed to others by being housed on-site or using buses to transport workers directly to and from the factory.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Quanta is the sole supplier of high-end MacBook Pro models. These are the configurations facing the most significant supply constraints. During its most recent earnings call, the Cupertino-based tech giant said supply constraints would disrupt its revenue for 3Q22 by as much as $4 to $8 billion.
Per DigiTimes and MacRumors, Quanta is investigating the use of other locations for production. Since its factory in Chongqing is unaffected by the lockdowns, Quanta could resume MacBook Pro production there and shorten the lengthy lead times. It’s also been rumored that most of the major manufacturers in Shanghai are only operating at 10 to 20% capacity because of insufficient labor resources and other supply constraints.
All this is taking place in an ongoing situation where the global chip shortage continues to be an issue. Still, is might be possible to relocate the factory, increase MacBook Pro production, and shorten delivery times, even if only by a few weeks.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via The Mac Observer, MacRumors, and DigiTimes