Loading...

Messages

Proposals

Stuck in your homework and missing deadline? Get urgent help in $10/Page with 24 hours deadline

Get Urgent Writing Help In Your Essays, Assignments, Homeworks, Dissertation, Thesis Or Coursework & Achieve A+ Grades.

Privacy Guaranteed - 100% Plagiarism Free Writing - Free Turnitin Report - Professional And Experienced Writers - 24/7 Online Support

Frejas toyota word

20/03/2021 Client: saad24vbs Deadline: 2 Day

Apple: The Best Supply Chains in the World?

opening case

For six straight years, Apple has been recognized as having the best worldwide supply chains in the “Gartner Global Supply Chain Top 25” ranking. Numerous accolades have also been made about Apple’s supply chain strategy, operations, and results. For example, Apple’s supply chains “best demonstrate leadership in applying demand-driven principles to drive business results.” “Apple dominates because it consistently brings both operational and innovation excellence to bear in some of the most competitive markets in the world.” Basically, Apple gets a lot of credit in the supply chain profession for being able to ramp up volumes both in hardware and software while also innovatively helping to redefine the consumer electronics market (e.g., iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac).

Apple is the world’s second largest information technology company by revenue after Samsung and the third largest mobile phone producer after Samsung and Nokia. In Interbrand’s “Best Global Brands” report, Apple is now also the most valuable brand in the world. It overtook Coca-Cola for the number one position after Coca-Cola’s 13-year run at the top. Apple has an estimated brand value of more than $98 billion. “Few brands have enabled so many people to do so much so easily, which is why Apple has legions of adoring fans.” These “fans” or customers have downloaded apps for Apple’s electronic gadgets more than 50 billion times.

The company’s general supply chain model follows the path of most large multinational corporation’s supply chains. They do research and development to cultivate new technologies and/or to acquire intellectual property needed for future products. They test the product concepts via marketing research, product testing, and total cost analysis. After that, Apple typically does a pre-launch of new products, where global production, sourcing commitments, inventory management, and so on are evaluated. The product launch involves doing demand forecasts, resolving potential backlogs, and ensuring that the products are in the hands of its customers in as fast cycle time as possible. After the launch, monitoring starts with periodic reviews of inventory, demand, life cycle status, and component cost forecasts.

A number of factors make Apple’s global supply chains world leading. First, early on, Apple took steps to manage the total value created in its global supply chains by managing its suppliers and all other providers within the chains. Predetermined expectations of suppliers, exclusivity in supplier arrangements,

–continued

420 Part Six International Business Functions

and volume guarantees ensured a supply chain infrastructure that could support Apple’s aggressive market leadership. Apple’s relationship building with its network partners is also a strength that has helped with increased scaling of production and resulted in improved quality in the manufacturing processes. Plus, and not to be underestimated, Apple has amassed lots of cash! The available cash funds have partially been used to place high volume orders, which strengthen supplier relationships, and in other ways maintain global supply chain leadership.

Using its supply chain infrastructure, Apple has managed to solve most of the challenges it has faced. For example, while the global economic downturn in 2008 presented problems for virtually all companies, Apple came through it in great shape. At the time, Steve Jobs said, “We’re armed with the strongest product line in our history, the most talented employees and the best customers in our industry . . . Apple just reported one of the best quarters in its history.” Other challenges that Apple is facing include obtaining enough quality components for its consumer electronics, potential for supply chain disruptions (natural and people created), dependence on third-party logistics providers, and inventory management issues. In each case, so far, Apple has strategically solved major issues to the satisfaction of the marketplace (the company consistently ranks at the top in “customer satisfaction” in the American Customer Satisfaction Index).

However, everything is not all rosy or positive about Apple. The company’s reputation has taken a few hits recently. For example, Apple was found guilty by a U.S. court of conspiring with publishers to set the price of e-books that were bought using iTunes. The ongoing feud with Samsung regarding various patents keeps lingering year-by- year, and worldwide customers are almost fanatically taking sides for or against Apple. There have also been allegations about the treatment of employees at Foxconn in China (one of the Apple suppliers). Plus, there was a U.S. Senate hearing that investigated Apple’s “highly questionable” tax minimization strategies. Now, on the more positive side, Apple has a portfolio of potential blockbuster products, welcomed upgrades, and innovative services in the making that are sure to remind its fans why they favor Apple products.

The challenges attached to these new offerings are sure to test Apple’s leadership in both brand value and best global supply chains. To some degree, the future challenges are clear. To stay at the top of its industry, Apple has to succeed in slowing Samsung’s momentum and capturing the booming Chinese mobile phone market. As always with Apple, as set in our expectations over the years by Steve Jobs’ “one more thing” announcements, Tim Cook and the new Apple leadership team must keep communicating to the market that their vision, innovations, and leadership can drive the idea that Apple’s best days are ahead. As one way to do this, Apple is on a hiring binge in Asia, adding hundreds of engineers and supply chain managers to its staff in Shangai and Taipei as it seeks to increase the speed at which it introduces new products. Plus, with Tim Cook as the CEO, Apple has a global production and supply chain management expert at the helm who constantly scrutinizes Apple’s supply chains, production operations, and fair labor practices. • Sources: D. Hofman, “The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25,” 2013, www.gartner.com/technology/supply-chain/top25.jsp, accessed April 13, 2014; “Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2013,” www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2013/ Best-Global-Brands-2013.aspx, accessed April 13, 2014; “Apple Is the World’s Most Valuable Brand at $98 Billion,” The Huffington Post, September 30, 2013; “Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results,” Apple Press Info, October 21, 2008; E. Doe, “Apple Goes on Hiring Binge in Asia to Speed Product Releases,” The Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2014; American Customer Satisfaction Index, http://theacsi.org; and “Fixing Apple’s Supply Chains,” The New York Times, April 2, 2012.

,

Chapter Fifteen Global Production and Supply Chain Management 421

Introduction As trade barriers fall and global markets develop, many firms increasingly confront a set of interrelated issues. First, where in the world should production activities be located? Should they be concentrated in a single country, or should they be dispersed around the globe, matching the type of activity with country differences in factor costs, tariff barri- ers, political risks, and the like to minimize costs and maxi- mize value added? Second, what should be the long-term strategic role of foreign production sites? Should the firm abandon a foreign site if factor costs change, moving pro- duction to another more favorable location, or is there value to maintaining an operation at a given location even if underlying economic conditions change? Third, should the firm own foreign production activities, or is it better to out- source those activities to independent vendors? Fourth, how should a globally dispersed supply chain be managed, and what is the role of Internet-based information technol- ogy in the management of global logistics and sourcing? Fifth, should the firm manage global supply chains itself, or should it outsource the management to enterprises that specialize in this activity?

Homework is Completed By:

Writer Writer Name Amount Client Comments & Rating
Instant Homework Helper

ONLINE

Instant Homework Helper

$36

She helped me in last minute in a very reasonable price. She is a lifesaver, I got A+ grade in my homework, I will surely hire her again for my next assignments, Thumbs Up!

Order & Get This Solution Within 3 Hours in $25/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 3 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 6 Hours in $20/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 6 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 12 Hours in $15/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 12 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

6 writers have sent their proposals to do this homework:

Supreme Essay Writer
Financial Assignments
Coursework Help Online
Calculation Guru
Helping Hand
Instant Homework Helper
Writer Writer Name Offer Chat
Supreme Essay Writer

ONLINE

Supreme Essay Writer

I have read and understood all your initial requirements, and I am very professional in this task.

$64 Chat With Writer
Financial Assignments

ONLINE

Financial Assignments

I am known as Unrivaled Quality, Written to Standard, providing Plagiarism-free woork, and Always on Time

$165 Chat With Writer
Coursework Help Online

ONLINE

Coursework Help Online

I will cover all the points which you have mentioned in your project details.

$46 Chat With Writer
Calculation Guru

ONLINE

Calculation Guru

I have read and understood all your initial requirements, and I am very professional in this task.

$67 Chat With Writer
Helping Hand

ONLINE

Helping Hand

You can award me any time as I am ready to start your project curiously. Waiting for your positive response. Thank you!

$56 Chat With Writer
Instant Homework Helper

ONLINE

Instant Homework Helper

I have read and understood all your initial requirements, and I am very professional in this task.

$122 Chat With Writer

Let our expert academic writers to help you in achieving a+ grades in your homework, assignment, quiz or exam.

Similar Homework Questions

Aruba instant user guide - 700 Wk 1 DQ 2# - Discussion with 350 words - Please atttach the plagiarism report - “malabar! malabar! did i say malabar, mother?” - How to add spanish accents on powerpoint 2016 - Cirque du soleil strategy - QUALITATIVE Journal peer-reviewed, Topic - BUSINESS - Proposal and research paper - The house of thebes - Strategy simulation competitive dynamics and wintel - Diabetic ketoacidosis concept map - How values affect choices - Student integrity - Circle within a circle crossword - Pre-Calculus homework ONLINE 50 to start - Modern fires vs legacy fires - Discussion: Case Conceptualization Part III - Childrens size 6 shoe conversion - Capsim beginner level certification - Privilege power and difference chapter 7 summary - Flysky fs gt3c reverse throttle - Homework help - Precautions of simple pendulum - Types of hard engineering - Impact and trends regarding health care access quality technology - Quize - Managing labor relations in public sector - Indirect object pronouns italian - Lancaster university county south - The apprenticeship of duddy kravitz quotes - What is the fee to enter yellowstone national park - Guaranty bank ssb milwaukee wi - Andrews lane primary school - I m the king of the castle quotes - Magnesium nitride s water l magnesium hydroxide aq ammonia aq - Liters in a milliliter - Projectile motion lab report answers - Luminous efficiency of a fluorescent tube is - Gandel holocaust studies program - Boring tedious jobs generally reduce people's perceptions of their - Roman jakobson on linguistic aspects of translation pdf - Palm jumeirah completion date - Unit2 db INTD 670 - British museum pompeii bread recipe - Oral health - Ramort company reports the following - Imagery in the second coming - Baron cohen eyes task - Reply to Community Health Discussion on School Health Issues - Camp lejeune education center phone number - 53 oceano street copacabana - Disaster Recovery Plan - Heron 2.2 air conditioner front panel - Benchmark - Risk Management Program Analysis - Part One - Www eurekamultimedia com au - Recommendation for ford motor company - 9 ones 2 thousandths - Sudhin shahani net worth - Cfa piling method statement - GAAP at Universities Analysis - Eco 110 discussion question answer - HR Planning, Employer Branding, Organizational Marketing - Need report - 5-6 pages - READ & REPLY - Henkel thermal interface material - How to calculate promo budget in capsim - Bastion definition lord of the flies - Mapping innovation roles project - Workplace surveillance laws victoria - Tea stage 2 5.3 heads - William shakespeare growing up - Godmanchester dog training club - Reflection paper on organizational behavior - Top down risk assessment approach - Under armour global strategy - Question 5 (a) and (b) - How many centimeters correspond to 15.68 kilometers - Auditing - 540 paper - How to solve superposition theorem problems - Northouse leadership 8th edition apa citation - Where to find the best quality website writer? - Whats a catch 22 - Discussion - Modulus of steel in gpa - 3.2 1.9 packet tracer answers - What is the mass of 0.0250 mol of p2o5 - Pooled development fund asx - Here is a work breakdown structure for a wedding - Mission statement of thomas cook - Brief exercise 4 3 brisky corporation - Project management selection criteria examples - Leg lig lect root word definition - Http www testingforschools com code - People spend more time than in any other communication activity - Use measuring instruments ammeter voltmeter wattmeter - Walmart ethics number - The future of health care delivery - Prism monochromator vs grating monochromator - Vitaly borker net worth - 16 kent schism boys bike red