Apple Manufacturer is "Falling Short" of iPhone 5 Demand

Apple

may have disappointed investors with

iPhone 5 sales, but that may not mean the product has failed. If Foxconn's recent statements are accurate, the iPhone 5 may very well be the most popular Apple product currently available.

"It's not easy to make the iPhones," Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou told reporters this week, including

. "We are falling short of meeting the huge demand." Apple has placed a greater reliance on Foxconn than any other partner. As the manufacturer of its most successful products (including iPhones, iPads and iPods), Foxconn is an essential cog in the Apple machine. That machine nearly came to a screeching halt when a riot forced Foxconn to

one of its plants. While Apple and Foxconn were reluctant to admit that iPhones were produced there, the riot was reportedly blamed on the challenges associated with producing the iPhone 5. When the

, the fear of shipment delays and product disruptions had finally been alleviated. Foxconn employees were

, however, as the working conditions had not improved. Gou's statement echoes earlier reports that the iPhone 5 is the

to manufacture. The longer body, thinner design and reduced weight have created new challenges for Foxconn.