Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci How China Captured Apple - Patrick McGee
Oct 15, 2025
Join journalist Patrick McGee, author of *Apple in China*, as he delves into Apple's intricate supply chain and its profound impact on the tech giant's history. He shares insights from interviewing factory workers, revealing how Foxconn's logistics innovations restored Apple's confidence. Patrick critiques the U.S. manufacturing decline and discusses Apple's precarious relationship with Chinese authorities. Explore Tim Cook's operational mastery, the 'Apple squeeze,' and why he believes the company may be losing its innovation edge.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Follow The Factory Not The Boardroom
- Apple’s story changes when you follow how products are actually made rather than just executive narratives.
- Patrick McGee found the real story by interviewing the on-the-ground engineers and factory workers.
How Foxconn Enabled Colorful iMacs
- Foxconn engineered single-line customization to produce the colorful iMacs efficiently on demand.
- That manufacturing trick revived Apple’s product mojo and beat Dell’s logistics model.
China Didn’t Intend To Assimilate
- The West treated China as a puzzle piece to integrate, underestimating its scale and ambitions.
- China plans long-term industrial power and never intended to fully converge with a Pax Americana.
