Logistics and Supply Chain Management of Apple Inc.: A Detailed Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Apple Inc.'s logistics and supply chain management. It examines the interfaces between logistics and production, marketing, and finance, highlighting how these areas are interconnected to drive Apple's success. The report delves into Apple's order cycle, discussing how the company manages its distribution network to efficiently meet customer demands and address potential disruptions. Additionally, it explores Apple's inventory management strategies, emphasizing the importance of minimizing inventory costs while meeting consumer needs. The report further investigates how Apple’s focus on hardware, software, and digital services provides an unparalleled user experience, contributing to its brand value. The analysis also covers Apple's approach to production, emphasizing its emphasis on confidentiality in the supply of key components and the creation of marketing buzz. Overall, the report offers insights into Apple's effective logistics and supply chain practices, which are critical to its global success. The report also analyzes the impact of Apple’s inventory management practices and their effect on the company's financial performance and client services.

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LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
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Executive Summary
The accomplishment of any organization lies in the effective Logistics and Supply
chain management. Logistics is the detailed divisional explanation of an organization
and the application of the complicated operations that are executed and
implemented from within. To help in enhanced perceptive of the fundamentals and
the principles of Logistics and supply chain management, an organization has been
taken into consideration. Apple.Inc has been selected as the organization. The report
includes the Logistic Management and the supply chain management of Apple and
how its Logistics are related with the production, marketing and the finance of the
organization. This report further discusses about the order cycle and the inventory
management and how they influence the productivity of the organization. The
purpose of this report is to closely analyze and provide a detailed output about Apple
and its functionalities.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................. 3
Interfaces.................................................................................................................... 4
Order cycle..................................................................................................................6
Inventory management............................................................................................... 8
Conclusion................................................................................................................ 10
References................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
The efficiency of an organization not only lies in the thriving management of
the organization but the key to accomplishment lies in the effective management of
the diverse divisions in the organization. The most significant way of calculating the
productivity of an organization depends on the successful management of the
logistic and supply chain division of the organization. Logistics is the detailed
divisional explanation of an organization and the application of the complicated
operations from within the organization (Christopher, 2016).
This report covers the details about the principles of Logistics And Supply
Chain Management with reference to an organization has been considered. The
organization taken into consideration is Apple.Inc. Apple is the world largest IT
Corporation in terms of returns and asset and the world’s second largest cellular
phone manufacturer. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak originally founded it. Apple has
about 115,000 employees from all over the world. Apple earn about $ 300,000 each
minute and has more in commission currency than the U.S treasury itself. Apple
iphone has higher sales than the entire asset that even Microsoft has to offer. The
entire brand is worth US$ 118.9 billion and is the world’s most esteemed brand, after
Microsoft and Google (Chan, Pun & Selden, 2013).
Apple has just about 475 Apple store in 22 countries. In the first quarter of the
year 2014, Apple generated returns more than Google, Face book and Amazon
combined. The distinctiveness of Apple lies its work culture that follows the principles
of top class brilliance, inventiveness, authentic innovations, confidentiality and

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modern combativeness, that are taken into contemplation while making its products,
making it exclusive and prized. The company’s prolific manufacturing along with
logistics and supply chain help it introduce newer products with no need of having it
to maintain large revenue utilizing inventories.
The purpose of this report is to closely identify and analyze the logistics
management of Apple.Inc as well as identifies the operations and supply chain
management that makes it one of the most booming brands globally.
Interfaces
This section mainly emphasizes on the interpersonal and interfunctional
synchronization between the logistics and the three core areas namely the
production, marketing and the finance. The finished product requires achievement of
raw materials, parts and components that sets off and influences the purchasing
behavior and the activities (Slack, 2015.
The quantity of the incoming resources and parts obtained by purchasing is
often influential in determining the quality if the finished product regarding sales and
distribution. In this case, with reference to the logistics, the production and the supply
chain of Apple is exceptionally strong. The reason for this is Apple chooses to focus
in developing the hardware, software and the connected digital services rather than
just focusing in one aspect. This helps in providing an unparalleled user experience,
allowing Apple to capture higher boundaries in terms of its products and services.
Frequently the equipment that are used in production are exclusive in nature due to
the special contracts or because Apple is large enough for a accumulation for the
machines and equipments becomes extremely long.

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Apple makes itself exceptional in terms of production since it asks its supplier
for a price quote and a detailed accounting for how the manufacturer would meet the
quote, which includes the labor, material charge and the projected profit. The
suppliers can be probably hit with a penalty concerning about the quality related
issues and the warranty claims.
On the brighter side, owing to this strategy Apple does not gets demand
predictions for new products and they have a section of loyal clientele who are willing
to wait for the new products. This is tremendously decisive in creating huge
marketing buzz (Chandler & Werther, 2013). In terms of logistics with the production,
Apple works in confidentiality in terms of the supply of the key element and in
particular the tailored components that are being used to protect the distinctiveness
of the products in order to avoid outflow.
The main objective of this technique is to protect the design and ensure an
enormous marketing sensation when the product in reality hits the market. In this
manner, Logistic management is interconnected with the marketing strategy of Apple
(Eden & Ackermann, 2013).
Theoretically, Logistics and finance of any organization are completely unlike
sides, where logistics is an entirely customer centralized management whereas the
finance is the management that does not believe in blocking the flow of cash through
creditability and inventory.
Apple has made a status through its management and logistics so almost
certainly the finance management would not be much affected by the Logistics
management due to the brand name it has earned through marketing and
manufacturing quality (Hill, Jones & Schilling, 2014). Apple has always maintained its

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stand by the worthy pricing of its products and the customers are also keen to
purchase its products at any price tag and administer the favorable cash flow by its
well maintained management and pricing strategies (Chen, Li, & Zhou, 2012).
From the point of view of cost efficiency, with an effort to subordinate logistics
operating expense by consolidating smaller consignment and using a slower mode
of hauling would amplify the lead-time and accordingly augment the inventory
incurring costs. This would in turn injure the client services due to the delayed
delivery. Therefore, it can be justified that the modification in logistics behavior
directly influences the efficiency and competence of production and marketing. In
particular, logistics are closely related to marketing through their involvement in client
services.
Order cycle
The cluster of the distribution network has been formulated in such a
approach that the warehouses and the retail store of Apple get enough supply to
meet soaring levels of order at times. The stocking up of the inventory in the retail
stores in a 24 hours window foster an proficient technique of eliminating the out of
stock crisis in the retail outlets. Apple obtains the key resources from its vendors and
transports the components to the manufacturing plant in China that carries out
assembling actions (Mangan & Lalwani, 2016).
On receiving orders from the customers, Apple ships and delivers the product
straight to the clients. The idea or concept of supplying through online portal is about
quicker delivery of the products to the customers who are not able to reach out to the
retails stores. In order to help perform better in terms of supplying its products, Apple
has invested heavily in websites, to facilitate in this technique of easier availability.

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Apple is questionably one of the best companies in terms supply chain
management (Stadtler, 2015). Apple makes every promising attempt to deliver its
products to the customers who order their products via online. This process is
facilitated by one click feature that has been integrated by Apple. Customers who are
ordering their products via online can avail the mentioned facility by signing into the
Apple account that is necessary to be created. This feature needs to be activated
and the selection of the desired product to be made, then in order to purchase click
the “Buy with one click” option. With no valid Apple account in existence, the
customers cannot avail this special and rapid facility.
Apple tries to make its order dispensation in time and prompt and in spite of
that, it faces repercussion due to weighty ordering and climax times surrounded by
holidays that results in the delay. Apple makes every probable exertion to transport
its products to the customers in time, to uphold a excellent relation with the
customers. Even though the lead-time of the delivery is provided at the time of
ordering, the delivery time may vary depending upon the stocks and availability of
the products. To make the process efficient, the customers are appropriately
informed about every step of processing and progress in the order (Tayur, Ganeshan
& Magazine, 2012).
One of the major backfires that Apple face is disruption of the online order
supplying system. This incident usually takes place due to the failing of the AT&T’s
online system due to congestion, account security breaches and due to the
fluctuations in the server. This usually results in a total pandemonium where the
orders cannot be taken online, thus disrupting the entire order processing system.

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The order processing systems can be enhanced by dividing the servers
through which the order process can be channeled instead of one central server,
which can be venerable to unethical hacking and viral attacks. System crashes can
be rectified with periodic debugging measures and creating an extra-secured
platform. Rapid system of order dispensation and delivery can be facilitated by
maintaining an excellent and vital connection with the suppliers. Proper action and
efficient measures must be taken after the products have been supplied to the
clientele to maintain a fine after sales report and a excellent relationship with the
patrons (Goddard et al., 2012). Improvising older dispensation systems are essential
to increase the efficiency of the company.
Inventory management
The crucial key to accomplishment of Apple is its inventory management.
Apple has created a vast range of products and devices that were meant for diverse
purposes. Some of the inventories include the ipad, Mac book, Mac book pro, I
phone, smart covers and much more. Even though some of the products did not
stand a possibility to thrive itself in the global market, yet it left its mark in the course.
The principle motto of Apple is to believe that humans and technological
innovations are indivisible. In order to accomplish such a goal Apple emphasizes and
takes an unlikely approach, the implementation of new innovative marketing
methodology to set its mark in the global market. Apple applies the design concepts
in an inventive way that is influential in determining the appearance of all the devices
underneath the same brand. This concept focuses on the brand significance that is
attained through the user orientation as Apple believes and follows the same value
up to date.

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Apple’s furtive to triumph lies with the sophistication of its inventories. Apart
from meeting the customer demands, the performance of the company depends on
the ability to create user-friendly interface that are demanded by the consumers
(Osterwalder et al., 2014).
Apple in the current period has cut down its inventories, the reason being,
inventories are depreciates quickly and tends to drop about 1% to 2% every week.
The present CEO of Apple, Tim Cook adopted the similar tactic to cut down the
inventories in order to help achieve better in the market struggle and slash down the
warehouse cost (Myerson, 2012).
The theory at the back is to maintain the stocks at a lower rate. This is
beneficial since the technology manufacturers cannot afford to keep many products
in stock due to the highly competitive nature of the technology industry (Hitt, Ireland
& Hoskisson, 2012). An innovation from a competitor organization can alter the
dynamics of the entire industry and bring down the value of products in inventory.
Apple has one of the most flourishing inventories in the electronics industry. In
order to achieve such the majority of the warehouses have been shut down. Almost
ten warehouses have been locked out with only nine remaining. With the lesser
number of warehouses and high number of key suppliers,
Apple was able to maintain a good strategic rapport with its vendors (Lambert
& Schwieterman, 2012). This tactic has been used to make the company leaner by
cutting the extra incurring expenses and plummeting the inventory overstocks, by
keeping in mind the expiry date of the products. Keeping the inventories lesser
ensure the entire selling of the goods without any depletion (Coelho & Laporte 2014).

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The efficient ways to boost production is to reduce the inventory days and
lesser number of days to sell out its products. This is achievable by having only one
central warehouse with most of the inventory limited in the retail outlets. By taking
the advantage of drop shipping or directly transporting the products from the
producer to the consumer, online purchase can efficiently trim down the transport
cost along with the depletion and the storage cost.
Conclusion
With the help of this report, the principles and theories of Logistics and Supply
management are used to rationalize the tactic that is adopted by Apple.Inc in terms
of Logistics, its production marketing, finance, order cycle, supply and the inventory
management thus enhancing its productivity in the global electronics market. Apple
productively administers the principles and strategies to influence the production,
marketing, distribution and financial divisions. Apple maintains its manufacturing
quality by controlling the supplies and the superiority of the parts that are being used
in the gadgets, making it so unique and esteemed. Apple’s concept of maintaining
uncertainty in terms of its products manufacturing is one of the sturdy marketing
strategies, helping it maintain a anonymity and eagerness among it loyal set of
patrons. The burly logistics management is influential in the never-ending flow of
cash despite the fact that Logistics and Finance management are two different ends
within the same organization. The logistics and the brand status do the work of
amplifying the selling of the products. The supply management of Apple is one of the
paramount features and in spite of that, the order processing system of Apple face
major backlash due to uncertain factors like crashing and corruption of online
ordering systems, hacking and faulty network servers, improper order placed,

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overdue in deliverance due to unavailability of products. Clashing of the lead-time
with holidays is also one of the factors of delayed delivery of the products. Apple has
one of the strongest inventory management that is channeled through tactical
development of invariable innovation and efficient diminution of the transportation
cost, stockroom-incurring cost and effective reduction in product depletion due to
over stocking. These factors are influential in an even revenue making.