The Newsletter of Lean Manufacturing Strategy
What Might Have Been for Apple |
Apple and A U.S. Manufacturing Strategy |
|
Kansas City |
16 MAR 2012 |
Issue# 80 |
Its not about cheap labor. Its about Flexibility, Quality and Cost Structure.
Apple executives have indicated that their switch from domestic to offshore manufacturing in China was inevitable. But was it? Well, it certainly was not a bad business decision——in terms of stock price and overall business success. But, it may not have been the only choice.
Our recent articles have reviewed Apple's approach to manufacturing in their 1984 factory at Fremont, California (Their Manufacturing Strategy). We contrasted it with Foxconn's Manufacturing Strategy in China.
In this issue of Lean Briefing, we begin to examine a third Manufacturing Strategy that might have allowed Apple to successfully manufacture in the USA. It is quite different than Apple's failed 1984 non-strategy. And, it is different than Foxconn's successful strategy for its Chinese operations. Nor is it the typical "Lean" cookie cutter approach.
Find out more at "What Might Have Been for Apple" on the Strategos website. In addition, Tim Cook has some good comments on Apple's manufacturing available at All Things D.
Best Regards,
Quarterman Lee
816-931-1414
