Apple indeed is not putting its eggs in a single supplier's basket, I think for the fact that if one fails, one will pass. Seagate Technologies, Western Digital Corporation and Hitach-LG Data Storage are their data storage suppliers too.
Despite Apple and Samsung aparent disdain for eachother, samsung is one of the companies that manufacture "brains" of tablets and smartphones for Apple.
I think Apple recent strategy of publishing its suppliers list is to let those suppliers know who is who, and to put them into serious competition to get the best out of them to its advantage of its stringent demand.
"After reviewing the list, I concluded that Apple has at least three suppliers for every single part it needs to make its products".
This is the reason why Apple place its suppliers on strict terms and demanding the highest quality of products because it has many of thess suppliers at hand. The company can easily dictate for them and be in control, while the suppliers too have to agree so as to stay in business.
Nemos, I have been pondering this and I am uncertain why Apple finally chose the option of publishing a list of all its suppliers. This is a list the company had kept secret for very long. A friend suggested during a recent discussion Apple published the list because the secrecy had served its purpose and might now be hurting the company. I tend to agree.
As you said, "This multisourcing approach is an old but very important strategy" and I believe it will help Apple, but still we don't know why Apple adapts this new strategy? Do we know the reason?
Garyk, There are many US companies on Apple's supplier list. Many of its biggest suppliers are in fact US companies, including Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Molex, AMD and Jabil Circuit.
Now that Apples Suppliers are identified US company's can ask why they can't be a Apple supplier? Assembling Company, chip manufacturer, case manfaucturer, etc.
This is really a breakthrough for Apple. Their supplier list is a lot more diverse than most people--including myself--thought. No doubt every name on this list earned its position.
I will point out that an in-depth article on Apple's supply chain strategy was recently published I think in BusinessWeek. It was a very in-depth piece and I remember this because on of the writers, Peter Burroughs, worked with me at EB too long ago to mention. It was an investigative piece that I believe Apple did not cooperate with. Maybe this was the nudge that lead to this report--either way, interesting stuff.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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