Digitimes report that, Apple’s newly released iPad mini and 21.5- and 27-inch iMac is hit with mass production issues. Consequently, parts providers in Apple’s supply chain will reportedly have to wait until the first quarter of 2013 to see improvement in their revenues.
Han and Wolfgram report, “Mass production of panels used in the iPad mini has reportedly suffered low yield rates, and backlight module providers have also had a shortage of supplies, which is affecting the amount of iPad minis that can be shipped in 2012.”
According to their post:
[quote] Sources said AU Optronics (AUO) and LG Display (LGD) provide panels for the iPad mini and that AUO is having mass production issues. This has caused the overall shipment proportion of AUO panels used in the iPad mini to drop to about 22%, down from AUO’s original 40% target, added the sources.
Apple is said to have set a ten million shipment target for the iPad mini for the fourth quarter of 2012, but might only reach six million during the period largely as a result of production delays at AUO, said the sources.
Additionally, the sources said new iMac models use panels sourced only from LGD. The company has had to develop a new production process for mass producing the iMac panels and has limited capacity, which is delaying shipments.[/quote]
“Apple is expected to reach its shipment targets for both the iPad mini and 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs during the first quarter of 2013, as parts providers in its supply chain are expected to increase their yields by then,” Han and Wolfgram report.
Source: Digitimes
