Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Goertek Chairman Jiang Bin visit Goertek's factory in Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Apple's chief operating officer, Jeff Williams, recently visited Goertek's facilities in Qingdao and Weifang, Shandong province. He was impressed by Goertek's advanced automation and the AI technologies on its production lines, particularly the iPhone 16e speaker assembly line.

Williams praised the company's use of AI for quality inspection and welding head life prediction, highlighting its smart and efficient manufacturing processes.

Goertek, a leading Chinese electroacoustic company, has been a key supplier for Apple for 15 years, contributing to the production of products such as acoustic components and the assembly of AirPods and HomePods.

The company's commitment to innovation is evident through its substantial R&D investment, with over 12,000 R&D personnel and multiple national and provincial research platforms.

Williams also praised Goertek's efforts in green manufacturing, noting that the company's use of renewable energy and recycled materials aligns with Apple's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.