Production increased for iPhone 5s, cutting wait time, WSJ reports

Consumers will no longer have to wait two to three weeks for Apple AAPL to ship them a brand new iPhone 5S. The Wall Street Journal reported on November 27 that Apple has drastically improved its supply chain management system. Apple is now shipping the iPhone 5S within three to five business days. The improvement in wait time is a result of the company's main assembler, Foxconn, adding more workers to its production lines and running its factories around the clock. Foxconn noted that the company has 600 workers on each iPhone 5S production line. The Taiwan-based manufacturer has about 300,000 workers at its Zhengzhou location dedicated to making the iPhone 5S and key components. Comments stemming from Apple's providers are always closely watched by investors who hope to gain insight on the company. “Although the market had concerns over demand for the new iPhone before its launch, out Zhengzhou site's production capacity for iPhones has continued to grow over the past two years,” according to a Foxcon executive. Apple is looking at improving its supply chain management even further as the company could potentially add new partners in Asia to improve production of all devices within the “iFamily.”