Tag Archives: Apple

Is the inability to source custom screws a reason why it is difficult to build iPhones in the USA ?

Posted on January 31, 2019 by

An article in the New York Times (January 28, 2019) titled “A Tiny Screw shows why iPhones won’t be “Assembled in the USA”” describes the difficulties that Flextronics, Apple’s assembler of the high end Macbook Pro in Austin, Texas, faced … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, Cost, delivery, emb2021, Global Contexts, logistics, Operations Management, ordering | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Not enough new iPhones, strategy or supply chain challenge?

Posted on September 18, 2017 by

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Why There Are Never Enough New iPhones” (September 18, 2017) describes the new iPhones launched in September 2017 as being available only in November, with possible delivery delays. The introduction if many … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, emb2019, imm2018, Innovation, logistics, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | 94 Comments

Nintendo and Apple battle for components provided by supplier

Posted on June 1, 2017 by

An article in the Wall Street Journal (May 30, 2017) titled “Nintendo battles Apple for parts as Switch demand rises”, describes supplier parts NAND flash memory chips, liquid crystal displays and tiny motors used by both companies in their products. … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, Cost, flash memory, manufacturer, mgmt5612018, Supply Chain Issues, technology | Tagged , , , , | 50 Comments

Calculating penalties for component design IP infringement

Posted on September 17, 2016 by

An article in the Wall Street Journal  (August, 4 2016) titled “Apple wins famed designer support in battle vs Samsung” describes the challenge of determining penalties for Samsung ‘ s violation of  Apple’s patents for display of apps and the … Continue reading →

Posted in intellectual property, Liability, product, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple’s efforts on conflict free tantalum procurement

Posted on February 14, 2014 by

An article published by the Financial Times titled “Apple to name and shame suppliers of conflict minerals” (February 13, 2014) describes Apple’s “supplier responsibility” report. Given the Dodd-Frank bill’s requirement to track use of conflict materials, Apple plans to use … Continue reading →

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On to the next legal round regarding Apple’s role in ebook pricing

Posted on July 18, 2013 by

An article in the New York Times (July 10,2013) describes the judge’s ruling that Apple coordinated with competing publishers to increase ebook prices. Apple is said to have offered publishers an agency pricing scheme by which it would be paid … Continue reading →

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Apple’s supply chain transparency — what do we learn ?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

A recent release of Apple’s supplier list, mapped on Google maps (http://www.chinafile.com/who-supplies-apple-it-s-not-just-china-interactive-map) provides specific locations of 74 component suppliers, of which 331 are in mainland China. A related supplier responsibility report (http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/reports.html) lists audits of suppliers and corrective action, along … Continue reading →

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Apple cuts chip orders to Samsung

Posted on September 11, 2012 by

An article in the New York Times (September 9,2012) claims that Apple has cut orders for memory chips sourced from its long time supplier, Samsung. Current patent disputes regarding the similarity of Samsung’s phone and the iphone have caused friction … Continue reading →

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Apple’s supply chain strategy – more insights

Posted on November 7, 2011 by

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (Nov 7,2011) describes Apple’s plans to invest $ 7.1 billion in its supply chain and commit $ 2.4 billion in prepayments to suppliers. It describes Apple’s decisions to buy such large volumes of high-end drills that … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Expensive iPad case, free iPad

Posted on October 17, 2010 by

The Oct 11 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek has an interesting story of auctions on Yahoo by companies in Taiwan. Apple currently does not sell the iPaDs in Taiwan. But savvy companies are selling iPad cases for over $ 1000 and … Continue reading →

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