The union, which did not return calls from NPR, will also work with General Motors as it cuts 25, 000 jobs at US assembly and component part plants.

NPR: GM, UAW Make Deal on Benefits

Looking to improve component availability in final assembly, they ranked worst performing facilities on a small set of key metrics.

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In most high-tech fields today, the know-how needed to make a component, sub-assembly or finished product has progressed too far and too fast for the average worker to be able to propose any useful innovations.

ECONOMIST: The land of disappointments | The

Replacement and repair of this equipment should provide at least a short term revenue opportunity for companies such as KLA-Tencor, Flexstar, Teradyne and Xyratex as well as a host of other component and hard disk drive assembly and test equipment companies .

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It is estimated that the project will add 6, 000 assembly jobs and 10, 000 jobs with component suppliers.

FORBES: China's Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities

Shih's Acer has several large computer assembly plants in China, as do many of its component suppliers, most of whom manufacture in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

CNN: Deal-Making Time

Further, Dell eschewed the costly product development of competitors like Compaq in favor of using a limited number of component suppliers ( Microsoft, Intel, etc.) and focusing on assembly.

FORBES: Avoid "Value Traps" - Sell Dell, HP

In evidence to the assembly's health and social care committee, Mr Thomas said a change in the law was a "key component" to a change in organ donation.

BBC: Kidney transplant (file photo - 2006)