Apple Inc.

is an international technology company that has opted to use the strategy of

reverse offshore. Apple's strategy for the location of its facilities dictates whether or not

the corporation outsources or does manufacturing, design, research and development,

marketing, and customer service. The corporation outsources most of its manufacturing to

Asian facilities, while its research and development is conducted in the United States and

Europe.

Apple's supply chain is extensive and complex, with a significant portion of its activities

situated in China. Across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, you may find R&D and product

design facilities. Additionally, regional offices are strategically placed in key areas

worldwide to provide decentralised marketing and customer support operations (Apple,

2022).

Apple has been trying for a while now to reduce its dependency on the Chinese market and

broaden its supplier base. This has resulted in some of its manufacturing being shifted to

other Asian nations like India and Vietnam. The corporation is also considering possibly

producing some of its goods in the United States. The ongoing trade tensions between the

United States and China have created an environment of uncertainty, which is one of the

most pressing issues facing the company today. In addition, worldwide supply chains have

experienced interruptions because of the COVID-19 epidemic, leading to increased pricing

for many enterprises (Shan, 2021).

Apple may want to think about creating a supply chain architecture that is more malleable

and adjustable so that it can respond more quickly to changes in demand and market

conditions. This would make Apple's global facility management more streamlined. In

order to keep up with the ever-shifting nature of the market and make educated decisions

on where to set up shop, a business may use a variety of technology resources and
analytical approaches. It's also possible that the company would look into collaborating

with similar enterprises so as to pool their resources and save costs. In addition, Apple has

to consider the prospect of allocating resources to training and development initiatives for

its workforce. Programs like this would help employees adjust to changing workplace

conditions and procedures.

The corporation has been under fire in recent years for allegedly exploiting workers in the

Asian factories where its suppliers produce their goods. Therefore, there is now more

pressure on the corporation to improve its labor practices and bring more production in-

house. As a result, Apple has made a number of investments in the United States and

Europe to strengthen its in-house manufacturing capabilities. Apple has invested in this

area by building its own facilities and buying up other companies that have relevant

expertise.

Increased competition for qualified labor, higher expenses associated with doing business

in low-cost locations, and the need to maintain a high degree of quality control in the

supply chain are just some of the challenges Apple confronts as it tries to manage the

worldwide location of its facilities. To save costs without sacrificing quality, Apple might

look at other production regions, such as developing economies with cheaper labor costs

and a trained workforce. This would boost Apple's productivity by allowing the

corporation to manage the worldwide placement of its facilities more effectively. In

addition, the company may decide to invest in technology and automation to boost supply

chain efficiency, reduce its dependence on human labor, and mitigate risk in the case of a

scarcity of available workers.

References
Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2017). Strategic management:

competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning.

Beamon, B. M. (1998). Supply chain design and analysis: Models and

methods. International Journal of Production Economics, 55(3), 281-294.

Apple Inc. (2022). Apple's Supply Chain: How it Works. Retrieved

from https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple-Supplier-Responsibility-

2022-Performance-Report.pdf

Shan, Z. (2021). Apple's Supply Chain Strategy: Moving Beyond China. Harvard Business

Review. https://hbr.org/2021/05/apples-supply-chain-strategy-moving-beyond-china