How Apple Uses its Supply Chain as a Strategic Weapon

[guch20]

You wouldn't think it so sweet had you been a farmer in the 1800s.

Yeah, those poor, poor multi-billion dollar smartphone and electronics manufacturers. If only Apple would stop creating the device markets and then buying up all of the components that they need to actually build those devices.

Your analogy would make perfect sense if Apple were doing something illegal or unethical, or if the farmers in the 1800s were suffering because they failed to act until after the market leader showed them the right way. Neither is true, so the analogy fails.

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Seems like some anti-trust regulators might be interested in blatantly anti-competitive behavior. If our government wasn't so dysfunctional that is.

What is anti-competitive about what they are doing? They're buying components that they need. Just because they need a lot and are cornering the market does not mean it's anti-competitive. They need to order a lot of components because they sell a lot of devices.

If they were stockpiling, that's one thing. But there is absolutely no evidence of that whatsoever, and you crying about it isn't going to make it true.

 

[gugy]

It must be fascinating working at Apple on the hi-level offices and seeing how they do business and take advantage of so many aspects of running the company.
From production to design, to retail and everything else must be very interesting and a huge learning experience.

 

[Eidorian]

I guess if that's all you were going to use it for, I totally understand.

I read books, magazines, surf the web, watch movies and sports, listen to the radio and MP3s, play games, write and read emails, post on websites like this one, dabble in novel-writing (one of the main things I used to use my Windows 7 laptop for--and no, I'm not very good at writing, no matter what the device), check stocks, buy stocks, sells stocks, and do my banking on my iPad 2.

For me, it's more than paid for itself.

Maybe when the library hands them out for free or your just end up with one at birth.

Libraries are for thieves and communists.

 

[roocka]

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Imagine how screwed everybody will be if Apple uses liquidmetal... Nobody else has rights to the alloy! Talk about supply chain management..

 

[guch20]

Maybe when the library hands them out for free or your just end up with one at birth.

Libraries are for thieves and communists.

And the poor, and college students, and kids, and heavy readers.

 

[Eidorian]

And the poor, and college students, and kids, and heavy readers.

Do not remind me how much I saved in college by borrowing textbooks. No one ever requested them to get them out of my hands either.

 

[guch20]

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Imagine how screwed everybody will be if Apple uses liquidmetal... Nobody else has rights to the alloy! Talk about supply chain management..

I was just recently wondering if/when Apple was going to put Liquidmetal to use. I'd love to see what they can come up with.

 

[iSayuSay]

Still thinking about "Johnny Ive is the one who should replace Steve as CEO because Tim just doesnt have the passion for product & design yada yada yada" ...??

Some people just don't get it

 

[Nostromo]

Great story. Like an army bringing supply to the front - major impact on the outcome of the war.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Best-Run-Company-On-The-Planet

 

[CFreymarc]

This is news?

 

[lukarak]

Wow Apple way to stifle innovation for everyone else.

Let's hope they can squeeze them out all together, so they get parts a year from when they matter. Then all people would be forced to use Apple, and the world would be a better place.

 

[the8thark]

Sounds a little like intentional abuse of capitol and market position in order to participate in anti-competitive behavior. I'm not surprised Apple would try to do this per se; I'm just surprised so many Americans would cheer them on with this much gusto.

So it's a problem when there is no parts left to make a product clone cause the company (Apple) that made the original product bought up all the parts. The cloners just need to pre-purchase parts. But their risk is if Apple makes a future product using different parts then they have pre-purchased now worthless parts.

 

[CFreymarc]

Still thinking about "Johnny Ive is the one who should replace Steve as CEO because Tim just doesnt have the passion for product & design yada yada yada" ...??

Some people just don't get it

Steve's replacement is effectively Ives without the accounting ********. Ives can fire anyone below the board and get away with it. The beat goes on.

 

[the8thark]

Still thinking about "Johnny Ive is the one who should replace Steve as CEO because Tim just doesnt have the passion for product & design yada yada yada" ...??

Some people just don't get it

You saw Ive speak on the Sobs memorial event. That was one of the most deadpan speeches I've ever heard. But it was amazing cause even that is 100x more then Ive would say about anything.

As the public face of Apple Cook is much better. Don't expect Stevenotes anymore though. People just cheered Jobs for being on stage. The Cooknotes will be of a more subdued nature, direct, to the point with the usual reflection on Apple's great past achievements.

The one good thing.
They are not Ballmernotes.
Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers?? Anyone?

 

[marksman]

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"Competing" like an 1800s railroad isn't something to admire.

Reminds me Hell on Wheels starts on AMC this Sunday. See the kind determination and force of will that was required to make this country great. Much as we admire Apple for being on the forefront of keeping this country great.

 

[couto27]

imagine the guy that going on a shopping spree to all asia.

apple "i need 50 millions of does components for july, how many do you got?
asia- "errr.....we can make 100 million until july "

apple- make 150.000 and exclusive to us....bank transfer or cash?
asia- .....

 

[Piggie]

You can only begin to imagine how a young Steve Jobs would of hated with a passion a company such as Apple and the way they work.

It's funny and kinda sad how often things and people turn, after many years into the thing you used to hate so much

You can neg this all you want, but not change anything.

Can you imagine if Steve Jobs and Apple were, at every stage blocked my IBM and others back in the 1970's and 80's by legal fights, and component supply issues due to the BIG boys.

Steve Jobs would be totally hate them, and make out he was the one trying to break free and away from the big boy control over the market.

And look where we are now.

 

[marksman]

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How Apple Uses its Supply Chain as a Strategic Weapon

Sounds a little like intentional abuse of capitol and market position in order to participate in anti-competitive behavior. I'm not surprised Apple would try to do this per se; I'm just surprised so many Americans would cheer them on with this much gusto.

You don't seem to beer stand what anti-competitive behavior is.

 

[SoGood]

Wow Apple way to stifle innovation for everyone else.

That's the name of the game. But it's not stifle innovation, but just pulling the rug under AAPL competitors.

 

[Jabukka]

It is always better to act then being forced to react.

 

[Abazigal]

Wow Apple way to stifle innovation for everyone else.

They are just going to use the parts to come up with another ipad or iphone clone. Where's the innovation?

 

[dethmaShine]

Lol like I said, sorry about that. I need some sleep!

Edit: I'm at work, so I can't.

Well, I really liked your comment. I wasn't being a bitch.

It was just so hysterical.

 

[combatcolin]

Wow Apple way to stifle innovation for everyone else.

Nobody does it better.

 

[pandamonia]

if they are so good why am i waiting 2 weeks for a damn iphone 4s, 1 month for the iphone 4 and even longer for the 3gs?