Apple Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is Apple
A producer and retailer of computer technology and mobile electronic devices
When did the company start business
1976
In 2014, what rank TNC was it in terms of size
11th largest in the world
What is the current value of Apple
$145 billion
Number one global brand by value
How many employees work for Apple
98,000
How many stores are there and in how many countries
453 retail stores
In 16 countries
5 reasons for Apple’s success
- Stylish and well-designed products
- Slick marketing and branding
- Innovative products
- Focus on highly mobile devices, which fits their market’s needs
- Selling via the internet is very efficient
Where is the market predominantly
Richer, developed countries
In 2011 44% of product sales were in the USA
Over the past 5 years, where has its most rapid growth been
Outside the US
Asia-Pacific region due to global demand for the iPhone
Where are their main products designed and made
Designed in Silicon Valley, California
Made in mainland China
Where are Apple’s headquarters and research and design centre
Together in California
Where are its European headquarters
Cork, Ireland
Employs 4000 employees to work on its iMac production line
How many of its 453 retail stores are in Europe and the Middle East
110
Why do Apple produce their mainstream products in China
- Large source of highly skilled, hard working, but low-paid workers
- A number of companies competed for the Apple manufacturing contract which forced down production costs
What is Foxconn City and how many people are employed there
It’s a business park that has a number of factories belonging to different manufacturers who assemble high-tech products for well-known brand names
Is dubbed ‘China’s Silicon Valley’
Over 400,000 people work there
Positive impacts
- Employs over 4000 people directly on its iMac production line and call centre
- Their presence in Cork has generated up to further 2500 jobs within the supply chain and ancillary work
- Attracted other high-tech firms to the area
- Attracted a highly skilled work force
- Expanded and contributed to to infrastructural improvements in the city
Negative impacts
- Many of the highly skilled workers are foreign nationals so Apple is accused of generating insufficient work for locals
- The counter arguments to this are that this has helped Cork to become more vibrant and at least 60% of the workers are Irish
What are the working condition like in China
In 2006, 200,000 workers were regularly working more than 60 hours a week for around $100 a month
The media used the term ‘sweatshop conditions’
How many people sued Apple in 2010 and why
50
Claimed they were poisoned by a toxic chemical used to clean iPad screens
How many suicides had taken place due to stress and severe working conditions by 2010
14
What were the 4 main things Apple were criticised on in terms of environmental issues
- Its reliance on non-renewable resources to supply electricity to its data centres
- Use of toxic chemicals such as PVC in their manufacturing processes
- Factories in China were discharging their pollutants and toxic metals into local water supplies
- The lack of recyclability of Apple products
After having been environmentally criticised, how did Apple respond
Launched its Green my Apple campaign
Now uses 75% renewable energy
Invested in large solar farms to power its data centres
Removed PVC and some other chemicals from its products
Started to promote the recycling of their products
What was the result of Apple’s responses to their environmental criticism
Moved up the Green Electronics ranking from 11th in 2006 to 6th in 2012
