Early complaints that the new iPhone 5, made of lightweight aluminum, is easily scratched or nicked are being taken seriously: Bloomberg reports that iPhone 5 production has slowed due to an attempt by Apple and its manufacturing partner Foxconn to correct these quality control issues at the factory level. As a result, the devices aren’t shipping with the machine-like efficiency we’ve come to expect from Tim Cook’s Apple(s AAPL).

While Apple SVP Phil Schiller reportedly gave the brush off to a customer who complained — 9to5Mac published his email response to a customer where he said it was “normal” for aluminum products to be scratched with use — Apple apparently took action anyway. According to Bloomberg:

The scrapes, which sparked complaints with the iPhone’s debut last month, are due to Apple’s decision to use a type of aluminum that helps make the smartphone thinner and lighter. Senior Apple managers told executives at Foxconn…