Apple 's Supply Chain Management Process

The main elements of a supply chain include purchasing, operations, distribution, and integration. The supply chain begins with purchasing. Purchasing managers or buyers are typically responsible for determining which products their company will sell, sourcing product suppliers and vendors, and procuring products from vendors at prices and terms that meets profitability goals.

Apple has several key advantages in how it manages its supply chain operations. First by buying key components from suppliers in advance they ensure the steady supply of key parts. This risk is also countered by signing exclusivity agreements with some suppliers. In addition, these exclusivity agreements give them an advantage over their competitors who sometimes had to wait for key components due to the large demand from Apple. Another key advantage is that Apple maintains a close relationship with suppliers by working with them to update manufacturing processes and technology.

Sales - Apple has a specific functional area based on sales. The sales department of a business handles how the products will be sold and helping customers find a suitable product for their needs. They organise sales promotions (or advertising), respond to customer enquiries about their products, and negotiate discounts for customers; which enhances customer satisfaction and keeping customer records up to date. E.g. Apple found that distributing their phones to sell at other shops would broaden their market and create a lot of word of mouth which would be essential to the growth of the business. The shops they distribute the phones to always try to find ways to discount their customers which always creates customer satisfaction.

Thousands of activities are performed and coordinated within an organization, and every company at least one supply chain relationship with another organization. Research has led to the conclusion that "the structure of activities within and between companies is a critical cornerstone of creating unique and superior supply chain performance" (Lambert, 2005). Successful supply chain management requires integrating business processes with key members of the supply chain, because valuable resources are wasted when supply chains are not effectively managed. Standard business processes enable managers from different organizations in the supply chain to use a common language and link-up their organizations' processes with other members of the

Reorders are placed at the time of review (T), and the safety stock that must be reordered is:

Apple business environment is competitive and fast-paced. Apple suppliers must understand this dynamic and be agile and flexible in responding to changing business conditions. All over the world, people are building Apple products and Apple has a responsibility to make sure that each person is treated with dignity and respect. It’s a massive challenge where Apple work is never done, but each year they implement meaningful, lasting changes across their supply chain. Because of this around the globe, Apple employees are united in bringing equality, human rights, and respect for the environment to the deepest layers of their supply chain. Apple goes deep into their supply chain to enforce their social and environmental standards by empowering workers through education, demanding that suppliers treat workers fairly and ethically at all times, having safe and healthy facilities, and hold their products and processes to the highest

By marketing the iPhone to select markets, Apple has been able to provide a device that meets or exceeds the market’s needs. In this deliverable, Team A Consultants, have been asked to provide a new marketing plan to embrace social media to increase sales. Apple targets certain groups and seems okay with not trying to dominate the entire cell phone industry. By using websites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, Apple can reach college students, adults, and like-minded professionals. All of these websites listed above already provide a B2B model for advertising to include in-depth analysis of the market being reached

Globalization has also had a significant impact on Apple's supply chain. The company earns high profits because it is able to produce its products at a low price and then sell them at a high price (Chakrabotty, 2012). In addition, the company has noted that it assembles its products in China because all of the components are made there this in addition to the low cost of assembly labor. Apple facilitates this by working with logistics suppliers like FedEx who can quickly move finished goods around the world via a number of hubs. All of Apple's products, for example, arrived in the United States in Oakland, California and from there make their way to the customer.

Apple Inc. is one of the largest technology companies in the world. The company develops consumer electronic gadgets such as smartphones, computers, desktops, laptops, iPods and tablets. The company was formed in 1976 by Steve Jobs with an intention of making computers but later it changed its focus to include the manufacturing of consumer electronics. However, the company was dealt a big blow when its chief executive officer and founder Steve Jobs died. The company will therefore have to search for ways in which it will maintain its market dominance as well as capture new and emerging markets. This research therefore seeks to establish how Apple forecasts demand and manages its inventory (Apple Computer Inc., 2006).

Apple's entire supply chain has been rated as the top supply chain in the world by Gartner's (Wailgum, 2011). Apple was one of the top companies rated in the resilience category by overcoming such hurdles as the Japanese earthquake without any major disruptions. Other categories that the supply chains were critiqued under included speed, agility, efficiency, responsiveness, and innovation. Apple's entire production operation is outsourced to the Asian Pacific and the company manufactures their goods through strategic partners who are some of the best electronics manufactures in the world.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has emerged as the dominant global manufacturer and marketer of advanced personal computer, desktop and consumer electronics products including the iPod, iTouch and iPhone Series of MP3, tablet PC and smartphone products. Apple's innovative approach to new product development requires intensive coordination and confidentiality on the part of suppliers, as the company will often move quickly from market test to launch in a matter of weeks. The speed and agility Apple moves with is exceptional given its size and the highly competitive nature of the industries it competes in as well (Franke, Schreier, 2010). While best known for its personal computers, MP3 players, tablet PCs and smartphones, Apple is also a leading innovator in the area of systems development and operating systems as well (Apple Investor Relations, 2012).

When Tim Cook was appointed to be in charge with Apple’s supply chain, Apple became one of the leading companies. In 2012, Apple was said to turn inventory every 5 days and that was part of the reason the research firm, Gartner,

But Apple’s product process has held a strong fascination for many over the years as it defies long-held conventions about how it should work for companies as large as it is. While some of these points have been revealed before, there is much here that is new to me. Lashinsky’s compact tome, which is fantastic, goes into detail on every aspect of the process and is well worth a

As mentioned earlier, Apple’s supply chain relies on third party suppliers and outsourcing to produce their devices. This strategy can become extremely risky in satisfying demand when resources are limited to one supplier, as seen in the company’s recent failing in meeting demand for the

This report has been prepared to analyze the supply chain management process, design and planning of this particular Domino’s location. Theoretical parts have been used to evaluate the company’s supply chain process in terms of its product and service offering. This report also focuses on the daily operations of this franchise. The focus has been placed on the daily operations processes of the Dominos store located on lakeshore Blvd. (w), Toronto, ON. This report is a result of team research, case study analysis, a store visit, interviews and insights from Dominos existing employees, application of theoretical concepts, models and prior experience. This study shows how Dominos has been able to position itself as a market leader in its segment. Finding various aspects of the company’s processes, provides as an token of appreciation to the company’s efforts to continuously grow in the changing market conditions by taking new product design into consideration and being innovative against its competition.