Exploring the book: "Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company"

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May 29, 2025 • 33 mins

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.

Show Sections

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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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Exploring the book: "Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company"