Apple is handing off more responsibility to its engineers in China

Apple's engineers in China are taking on more responsibility due to increasing COVID-19 restrictions.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal (via The Verge), the company is giving engineers in the country more decision-making capability when it comes to managing the hardware manufacturing process. Apple has historically been known to regularly send U.S. based engineers to the country, but COVID-19 restrictions in China have caused the company to shift its strategy.

Despite not being physically in the country, Apple's engineers based in the United States still use video calls and augemented reality to assist its team overseas.

The iPhone maker has also adopted some technology, including live-streaming, that helps staff based at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., remotely follow what's happening on China's factory floors, the people said. Apple has used iPads to communicate and augmented-reality tools to help technical experts in Cupertino check factory issues, one of the people said.

While engineers in China have taken on more responisbility, the report says that "key decisions" will still be made by the Apple's team at Apple Park, the company's U.S. headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Apple has been facing more supply constraints as of late due to the global supply chain shortage which has been largely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Basic Apple Guy Twitter account pointed out earlier today that many of the company's products are seeing delivery dates as far out as three months.

Apple has continued to adapt to the impact of the pandemic but has also been taking strides to return to a pre-pandemic world. The company recently lost its director of machine learning due to its stance on remote work.