Store managers at Apple's retail locations are said to have begun asking employees to report errors in the mapping database in iOS 6.

The voluntary initiative was revealed on Wednesday by Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore.com. The details indicate that Apple is hoping its more than 40,000 retail employees can help improve the Maps application introduced with iOS 6.

However, Allen also noted that not necessarily all Apple retail employees can afford an iPhone. He also questioned whether 40,000 employees could "really put a dent in Maps app errors."

After it debuted in iOS 6, Apple's new Maps application was met with widespread criticism from users who complained of incorrect positioning data, poor routing and Flyover rendering issues. Apple's new mapping solution is widely viewed as inferior to the product it replaced, which was powered by Google Maps.

Apple first issued a statement last month to say it was "working hard" to rectify Maps issues, while the company's Maps team was said to be "under lockdown" to fix some of the larger errors seen at launch. As criticism continued, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook issued a public apology last week in which he said his company is doing "everything we can to make Maps better."

Cook also noted that Maps will improve with use, as customers can report errors in the mapping database. He also recommended a number of potential alternative mapping applications that can be used to replace iOS 6 Maps.