--- title: 7 Supply Chain Lessons from Steve Jobs description: Apple is known as a thought leader in many ways, including how they look at their supply chain. Here's 7 supply chain lessons from Steve Jobs. image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVGfm3V6Nfg/VV2p1uDJnzI/AAAAAAAAG8I/GlqQZ6QIgDs/s1600/7%2BSupply%2BChain%2BLessons%2Bfrom%2BSteve%2BJobs.png --- [![Centra Foods | Simply Authentic](https://www.centrafoods.com/hs-fs/file-339185492-png/images/centra-logo.png?width=487&height=64&name=centra-logo.png "Centra Foods | Simply Authentic")](https://www.centrafoods.com) [Bulk Oil Blog](http://centrafoods.com/blog) # [7 Supply Chain Lessons from Steve Jobs](https://www.centrafoods.com/blog/7-supply-chain-lessons-from-steve-jobs) Posted by [Hannah Broaddus](https://www.centrafoods.com/blog/author/hannah-broaddus) August 27, 2018 at 6:30 AM Apple Inc is regarded as the best company in the world for its cutting-edge supply chain management practices. What's the secret behind its success? This article will explain to you what we can learn from the co-founder of the company.   ## Apple In A Nutshell It goes without saying that Apple Inc is famous for its strengths in the product design, product development, branding and marketing strategy. When it comes to supply chain management practices, many people believe that its supply chain model and sophisticated software system are the secret weapons that help them maintain the market leadership. In April 2012 (six months after Jobs's death), Harvard Business Review published the article called [*The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs*](https://hbr.org/2012/04/the-real-leadership-lessons-of-steve-jobs). The author of this article is Walter Isaacson who helped Steve Jobs completed his best-selling biography. Isaacson identifies the practices that he believes people should learn. Even though it's about business management in general, the article contains some interesting aspects about supply chain management. [![Supply Chain Lessons From Steve Jobs](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVGfm3V6Nfg/VV2p1uDJnzI/AAAAAAAAG8I/GlqQZ6QIgDs/s1600/7%2BSupply%2BChain%2BLessons%2Bfrom%2BSteve%2BJobs.png "Supply Chain Lessons From Steve Jobs")](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVGfm3V6Nfg/VV2p1uDJnzI/AAAAAAAAG8I/GlqQZ6QIgDs/s1600/7%2BSupply%2BChain%2BLessons%2Bfrom%2BSteve%2BJobs.png) ## Customer comes first, cost cutting comes second The philosophy of product development at Apple is to build "insanely great" products that customer wants to buy. Simply put, Jobs pursued the differentiation or value creation strategy. And when the whole supply chain takes actions in sync with this strategy, the success is phenomenal!   During 1983 to 1993 when Jobs didn't take the helm of the company, the cost reduction/profit maximization strategy was the primary strategy which resulted in the downward spiral.     ## Set Impossible Targets When Jobs decided that he wanted the face of iphone to be the scratchproof glass, he turned to Corning who developed the technology called "Gorilla Glass" but it's just a prototype in R&D lab. Jobs indicated clearly that he wanted a major shipment of Gorilla Glass within 6 six weeks which was beyond the capability of Corning. However, Job insisted on this request and later Corning converted one of its LCD production line to produce the new kind of glass.     ## Prioritize Action After Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, there was a wide array of unrelated product lines. Then, he announced that he needed only 4 product categories, namely, "Consumer", "Pro", "Desktop" and "Portable". By segmenting the products properly, Jobs reduced the complexity of supply chain big time and his team can prioritize the actions required to support the strategy.     ## Adopt Process View Jobs ensured that the performance of microprocessor down to the experience of buying products at its stores was linked together. To do this, Apple increased the internal integration by establishing a common goal across business units.     ## Simplify Product/Process It said on the Apple's first marketing brochure that "Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication". In literal meaning, Jobs eliminated the unnecessary components which led to the reduction of inventory and smoother production process.     ## Make radical change when necessary The integration of Ipod, Itunes and Itunes Store revolutionized the music industry. However Jobs was afraid that someone would added a music player in thephone's handset, then, he decided to discontinue the sales of Ipod and created the Iphone. Radical change or "Reengineering" may be necessary if the external forces are strong.     ## Enhance relationships via face-to-face meetings Jobs believed the great ideas couldn't be developed solely via e-mail. From his experience, he created the ideas from the long meetings or even when you ran into someone. This lesson works well for both internal and external relationship.     ## In Conclusion Supply chain management is everywhere, from the strategy formulation, product segmentation, product/process design down to customer satisfaction. Supply chain professionals adopt whatever concepts that help to create the value.   Even though Apple Supply Chain has some "hiccups" such as various problems of suppliers in Asia, they are definitely one of the role model in supply chain management.   *This [article](http://www.supplychainopz.com/2013/08/7-supply-chain-lessons-apple-steve-jobs.html) was originally featured on Supply Chain Opz and is published here with permission.*     Topics: [Industry Trends](https://www.centrafoods.com/blog/topic/industry-trends) ### Don't Forget to Share! [Share via Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centrafoods.com%2Fblog%2F7-supply-chain-lessons-from-steve-jobs) [Share via Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centrafoods.com%2Fblog%2F7-supply-chain-lessons-from-steve-jobs&text=7+Supply+Chain+Lessons+from+Steve+Jobs) [Share via Email ](mailto:?subject=7+Supply+Chain+Lessons+from+Steve+Jobs&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centrafoods.com%2Fblog%2F7-supply-chain-lessons-from-steve-jobs) [Share via LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centrafoods.com%2Fblog%2F7-supply-chain-lessons-from-steve-jobs&title=7+Supply+Chain+Lessons+from+Steve+Jobs&summary=Apple+is+known+as+a+thought+leader+in+many+ways%2C+including+how+they+look+at+their+supply+chain.++Here%27s+7+supply+chain+lessons+from+Steve+Jobs.)   #### Related Articles #### ↓ [Industry Trends](https://www.centrafoods.com/blog/topic/industry-trends) Current [logistics](http://www.supplychainopz.com/2013/05/logistics.html) and [supply chain management](http://www.supplychainopz.com/2013/03/supply-chain-management.html) trends are discussed very often on social media sites. How can we identify them really? This article will show you some... [Industry Trends](https://www.centrafoods.com/blog/topic/industry-trends) In this article, originally published on Supply Chain Opz, Professor Burcu Keskin from University of Alabama will share 7 supply chain trends that working professionals... 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