Working in the electronics industry my workplace is almost the same.However the massive demand dictates the number of workers and procedure.
Sure we have a production line, with people doing repetative tasks but we don't make millions of the one product. Our batch runs are normally around 1000 units maximum.
It was interesting for me to watch as it shows two things that are common in almost every industry, unskilled labour is cheap and the work force replaceable. Hell my work uses labour hire staff when we get large orders then the time comes and we send them back. Labour is cheap in China as the cost of living is lower.
Sure it looks like it's slave driven type work, but in 4-6 months there will be new version of the iphone/pad and they will still package them on the same line.
Somthing that a machine could do in half the time however the build time of the machine would be as long as the product life. giving people jobsis better for me.
Simon.
