Foxconn to cut 10,000 jobs in big move to automated processes

Foxconn is a huge part of China's manufacturing industry, with huge clients like Apple, Google, Amazon, Acer and more. As a result of this huge client list, the factory employs a huge number of workers. However, during a press conference this week, Foxconn announced that it would be cutting 10,000 jobs over the course of 2018, as the factory moves over to automated processes.

Foxconn chairman, Tuan Hsing-Chien made the announcement this week. As Nikkei reports, the bulk of these job cuts will come out of the Innolux display business, which mainly supplies displays for the iPhone and a number of TV and monitor makers.

Image Credit: Milwaukee Indépendant. 

Currently, Foxconn employs around 60,000 staff, over the course of this year, that number will be reduced to less than 50,000. These job cuts come as the result of Foxconn moving 75 percent of its production to automated technologies. The company will also be investing around $342 million to implement AI into its factories.

By moving over to automated processes, Foxconn hopes to boost the development of a new display technology known as ‘Active Matrix Mini-LED', which will supposedly rival OLEDs in the future. Foxconn is reportedly already talking with car manufacturers to get these screens into vehicles at some point.

KitGuru Says: This news is somewhat bittersweet, it's never great to hear that thousands of people are going to be out of a job. However, from the sounds of it, automation is going to help with future innovations and aside from that, Foxconn has had plenty of scandals when it comes to employee work environments. 

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