iPad 2 could face supply problems following Japanese earthquake - GigaOm

iSuppli, the company responsible for the full product of Apple product teardowns, reported Thursday that the Japanese earthquake could affect iPad 2 volume of supply, at least five components of the device are likely to be from a Japanese suppliers, including parts of difficult to replace.

The specific parts of iSuppli has been identified as likely to be from Japan include NAND flash of Toshiba Corp., DRAM for Elpida Memory Inc. and touch the glass of superposition of screen for viewing probably made by Asahi Glass Co. The battery (of Apple Inc.'s Japan) and electronic compass (from AKM semiconductor) are also produced by Japanese suppliers, and are so specialized that they could be very difficult to replace supplier located in other places.

Other components may even have been obtained in Japan in addition to those mentioned above, but the process of disassembly is not always able to identify the country of origin of all parties, he warned iSuppli. He also noted that at least some of the Japanese suppliers of Apple reported that its facilities not sustain any damage as a result of the earthquake, but that logistics problems and other factors could still affect to the chain of supply in such facilities.

iSuppli also noted that semiconductors in Japan facilities, at least, not can resume full production until that have ceased to replicas of all. According to Dale Ford of IHS, which acquired iSuppli in 2010:

Earthquakes ranging from 4 to 7 on the Richter scale will make it impossible to restart these really fabulous to earthquakes happen with such frequency. Every time that an earthquake exceeds 5, the team turned automatically off.

Apple can find alternative supplies of NAND memory, including the Samsung Corporation of South Korea and technology of microns in United States. Samsung may also provide the DRAM, but when it comes to other Japanese made main components, find a suitable replacement may not be so eaasy.

The electronic compass in the iPad 2 is apparently very specifically calibrated to work with the Tablet accelerometer and gyroscope, and is very sensitive to electromagnetic interference. According to IHS, this means that not only exchanged was for a similar product from another vendor.

The glass used to protect the touch screen of the iPad is believed that the new product of Asahi Glass Dragontail, which is stronger than the glass in the original iPad. If the provider is Asahi, it would cause problems because the company has reported damage to three of its facilities in Japan. It is a patented product from glass, shopping alternatives could lead to variations in the quality.

Finally, the iPad 2's drums, while tagged as "meeting" in China, "seems to make Japanese subsidiary reality of Apple." IHS Senior Analyst Wayne Lam explains why Apple may have had to continue with the domestic production of this component in particular, which makes it difficult if not impossible have built elsewhere:

Normally, cells of the battery are carried out on the site of the Assembly but because the iPad 2 lithium polymer battery is unusually thin, it is likely that requires advanced manufacturing technologies of cells residing in Japan battery.

Obviously, supply iPad 2 levels are now the least of the problems of Japan, but this could mean that Apple will have problems to meet the demand of the customers in the United States and that it could even lead to a general postponement of the international release of latest PC Tablet from Apple. Value of the shares of Apple crossing earlier in the week, due partly to fears of supply, and while prices recovered yesterday, this latest report won't do much to dispel such fears, either. We have come to Apple for comment, but have yet to hear again.

Related Articles