Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., is looking to fully automate its factories in China, The China Post reported Dec. 29, citing comments to Chinese media made by Day Chia-peng, general manager of Hon Hai's automation technology development committee.

The manufacturer of Apple Inc.'s iPhone is doing the conversion in three phases, according to the report. First is setting up automated work stations for tasks that are too dangerous for employees, second is automating entire assembly lines and third is full automation of the entire factory.

The report added that some of Foxconn's factories in Shenzhen and Chengzhou have already completed the second phase and are now headed toward full automation.