India, Sept. 2 -- Apple is reshaping its global supply chain by making robotics and automation mandatory for its manufacturing partners. The company, which has been encouraging automation for more than two years, is now said to make it a condition for awarding new contracts.

According to the DigiTimes report, the decision is part of Apple's broader strategy to reduce reliance on human labour, stabilise product quality across factories, and control long-term costs. Sources familiar with the matter noted that the requirement applies to the production of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models.

Suppliers are expected to handle their own automation upgrades, which differs from Apple's earlier practice of financing machinery and tools for ...