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Topic:

Analysis of the Operations and Performance of Apple Inc.

Essay Instructions:

Choose any product company of your choice from any country and organise a report with a detailed discussion based on the following:(Please choose a large company)

1. Introduction of the chosen company.

2. Identification and analysis of the 4V framework of the chosen company.

3. Discussion and analysis of the operations performance at operational level.

4. How the chosen company may eliminate any 4 wastes in its lean operations.

5. How the chosen company may improve any 2 gaps based on the gap model of quality.

6. Any 2 reasons why the company may hold inventory.

7. Identify any two (2) of its seasonality of demand and one method how the company may reconcile its capacity and demand.

8. How the company may make operations improvements based on a chosen framework.

9. Conclusion.

10. Reference list

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Analyzing the Operations and Performance of Apple Inc
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Analyzing the Operations and Performance of Apple Inc
Apple Inc s an international technology company having its headquarters in Cupertino, California, that creates, builds, and trades electronics, computer programs and online services. The Apple company forms one of the largest technology organizations globally based on finances, and it deals in various commodities and service provision. These products are inclusive of iPhones, Macs, iPods, iPad, Apple smart watches and Apple TVs. The Apple brand was initiated by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak in 1976. This organization began as a computer hardware and software company; it has since developed into other sectors, including music, online services and mobile devices (Yie et al., 2021). Apple commodities are recognized for their creativity and functionality, and the company holds strong brand credibility and a loyal customer base.
One of this company’s best-selling products is the iPhone, a luxurious smartphone category that has revolutionized how we communicate and access information. The iPhone is highly regarded for its sleek design, outstanding performance, and easy-to-use interface, and it has assisted in making smartphones a significant part of our daily lives (Yie et al., 2021). Additionally, Apple boasts other well-known products, including the iPad, a line of tablet computers used for productivity, entertainment, and more; the Mac, a group of laptop and desktop computers that creative professionals and enthusiasts appreciate. Finally, the iPod is a type of portable media player that has been a highly regarded choice for listening to music on the go.
Nonetheless, Apple Inc has also built several online services, such as the App Store, a digital sharing platform for mobile applications; the iTunes Store, a digital media destination; and iCloud, majorly used as a cloud storage and cloud computing service. These services have made Apple a significant contributor to the digital-economic world and significantly resulted in the organization’s success. Generally, Apple Inc is a thriving and prominent company that has impacted the technology industry. Apple products and services are globally used and respected, and the company has a solid financial performance and presence worldwide.
Apple Inc's success is based on meeting all aspects of the 4V's in its endless efforts to meet its consumers' demands and values. A 4V system is a tool that analyzes an organization's crucial operational ideas and the means it uses to create value for its customers (Helmold & Samara, 2019). The four V's stand for Value, Volume, Variety, and Variability. The following explains how Apple Inc applies the 4V. One is Value; Apple Inc is recognized for its exceptional products that offer excellent value for the price. Nonetheless, the company's products are built to be reliable and user-friendly and are often accompanied by features and capabilities that are not available on competing products. Apple trades superior products and services and offers excellent customer service, which helps create value for its customers.
The second V is Volume. Apple boasts a significant sales volume, with millions of products traded annually. This high volume of sales helps lower production costs, allowing Apple Inc to offer its products at competitive prices. The third is Variety; this company sells several products, which include smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and computers, to the market. This Variety allows the Apple company to attract several customers with different needs and preferences. The final V is Variability which relates to Apple's products being designed to be flexible and adaptable and with the ability to be customized to satisfy the needs of different users (Nik Soh, 2019). This variability helps to develop a value for customers by allowing them to choose the features and abilities that are most important to them. Comprehensively, Apple's 4V scheme helps to create value for its customers by offering exceptional products that are widely available, offer a wide range of features and abilities, and can be customized to satisfy the needs of different users.
On operational grounds, Apple is known for its constructive and effective operational strategies, which have played a key role in its success. Here are some key points about the operations performance at the operational level at Apple Inc. Based on its supply chain management, Apple has a highly efficient supply chain that can deliver the materials and components needed for its products well-timed and economically. The organization works closely with its suppliers to ensure that the suppliers can satisfy its mass-production needs. It applies contemporary technologies such as just-in-time (JIT) inventory management to limit waste and reduce costs (Krishna & Ulmer, 2020). Second is its manufacturing cycle; Apple owns several production premises worldwide, including in Taiwan, China, and the United States. These facilities utilize advanced technologies and procedures to manufacture products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with high levels of accuracy and quality.
Another wing of Apple's operational basis is its product development: Apple Inc is known for its innovative products, and this company's product development procedure is a significant part of its operations. The company has committed research and development employees that work on new products and technologies, and it applies several tools and techniques to introduce new products to the market quickly and effectively. Apple's quality control finalizes on its competent operational grounds. Apple Inc strongly emphasizes quality evaluation and has strict standards established to ensure that its products meet the high level of quality that its customers anticipate (Greg, 2020). The Apple company has several quality assessment measures in place, including trial and inspection procedures which ensure that its products are reliable and meet the company's standards. Apple's operations performance at the operational measures is highly organized and efficient, and it has played a significant part in making the company successful.
Like Apple Inc, any organization may need to establish its lean operational structure, which strategically maintains firms' competitive position in their respective markets. In its lean operations, Apple Inc aims to terminate waste and enhance efficiency by pointing out and eliminating non-value-adding activities (Yie et al., 2021). The following techniques illustrate how Apple Inc might eliminate the four wastes, also referred to as the "four Muda", in its operations. One is the 'Muda' which is translated to waste. The Apple company may eliminate waste in its performance by simplifying its processes and eliminating unnecessary production procedures. For example, the company can use modern technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence to lessen the time and effort needed to execute specific tasks.
Second is the ‘Mura’ which, in simple terms, means unevenness. Apple can terminate uneven performance by balancing its duties and ensuring that its workforce and resources are utilized effectively. This strategy may involve using advanced scheduling and planning tools to maximize the use of resources and minimize downtime. The third ‘Muda’ is the ‘Muri’ which translates to overburden. Apple can cut overburden in its operations by ensuring that workers are not overloaded with duties and that they have the resources and support necessary for the timely completion of their tasks (Baporikar, 2022). This step may involve using tools such as time management software to assist employees in prioritizing their work and avoiding fatigue. The final Muda is the ‘Mune’ which, in simple words, means defects. Apple can eliminate performance defects by executing concrete quality control measures and testing procedures. This activity may involve using advanced testing technologies and strategies to identify and fix defects before the firm releases the products to customers. By eliminating these four wastes, Apple may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and better its overall performance.
Another way Apple Inc can improve its operations is by enhancing some aspects of its gap model of quality. The gap model of quality is used to assess the difference between customers' anticipations and the company's actual performance (Stibe et al., 2022). This type of model illustrates a sum of five gaps as follows. Gap 1 is the customers' needs and expectations, while Gap 2 is a company's opinions of customer needs and anticipations. Gap 3 explains the company's spelt-out standards and targets. In addition, Gap 4 demonstrates the company's actual performance, whereas Gap 5 stands for customer perceptions of a company's performance.
The following briefly describes how the Apple company can improve in two of these gap models of quality. One possibility is Apple Inc improving on Gap...
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