Apple Supply Chain Ethics Case Study

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Recommended: Apple inc.: managing a global supply chain fraser p. johnson, ken mark

Module 4 Option #1 Ethical Sourcing and the Supply Chain Any U. S. based company doing business oversees is faced with supply chain challenges. International businesses deal with various cultures, traditions and ethics. It is not always commonplace for an organization to include the CSR it practices at home, in its international dealings and supply chain selection. It would behoove any multinational corporation to consistently instill its CSR policies at home and abroad. This would include any supply chain the company includes in its operations. Apple is a prime example of why any organization disconnecting responsibility from its supply chain can end in disaster. Supply Chain Responsibility Any organization not taking responsibility for its supply chain abroad can end in a PR nightmare. The bad press will outweigh any cost savings made by a firm disassociating itself from its supply chain. For example, when the building where a supplier for H&M, Marks & Spencer and …show more content…

The company had been successful at creating a façade of strength and global responsibility when that was anything but the truth. Many of the workers in Apple’s supply chain were facing unsafe and unethical conditions such as: working excessive overtime – seven days a week at times, standing for long periods of time without a break and working with poisonous chemicals. Apple was truly concerned with high quality at the lowest cost available. The company ended up paying a much higher price as two of its factories had explosions killing four people and badly injuring 77. As a result of the tragic events, Apple faced some turbulent waters in its stock prices and was left with no alternative other than to face the issue head on. Whether or not the company truly intended to remedy the situation, remains to be seen to this

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