Mission: Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the

personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings. top Vision: An Apple at every desk Apple Store Mac iPod iPhone iPad iTunes Support

Welcome to the Apple procurement website. Over the years, Apple has developed an entire ecosystem of suppliers who support our business operations. Our goal, in a nutshell, is to obtain stellar products and services within tight timeframes, at a cost that represents the best possible value to our customers and shareholders. If that sounds like a daunting task, its the same one we assign ourselves.
We are proud of the strong relationships we have built with our suppliers, many of whom have been working with us for years. And we are always looking to expand our supplier base to accommodate our rapidly growing customer base. To that end, we periodically review our relationships and add new suppliers as needed.

Suppliers at Apple

Apple requires each of its suppliers to meet the highest standards for all goods and services. Our requirements include a commitment to rigorous quality assurance. In addition, suppliers must be committed, as we are, to ensuring the highest standards of social responsibility. The ideal suppliers are those who understand our culture and expectations. We value suppliers who take the time to learn about and understand our business and who look for ways to add value. These suppliers know the importance of making and meeting commitments and delivering the highest quality goods and services. Our business environment is competitive and fast-paced. Our suppliers must understand this dynamic and be agile and flexible in responding to changing business conditions. Above all, Apple values innovation. We appreciate suppliers who truly understand and share in our challenges, and who help us find the best possible solutions.

Supplier Diversity Program

We take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. A good example is our strong and longstanding commitment to a diverse supplier base. Apples Supplier Diversity Program was formally established in 1993; since that time the company has continued growing and supporting the long list of suppliers who participate. Apple actively participates in the program through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and VeteranOwned Business Expositions, as well as Supplier Diversity Business Opportunity Trade Fairs around the country. The businesses we categorize as diverse suppliers are Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, as well as businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business regions (HUBZone) and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB). So how does a business join Apples Supplier Diversity Program? Thats simple: You start by completing the online Supplier Registration Form. Following a swift verification and screening process to ensure a good fit between supplier strengths and capabilities and Apples current and

future requirements, Apple reviews the supplier information. The business then becomes a potential supplier who may be used in the procurement process as business needs dictate. In the interest of encouraging the success of our diverse supplier base, we work with the Supplier Diversity Program participants to help them develop their businesses. This often involves working with a number of organizations that offer training and feedback. Suppliers who wish to participate in Apples Supplier Diversity Program should complete the online Supplier Registration Form so their information can be entered into Apples Supplier Information Database (SID). We have included special areas within the form that prompt the database to alert our supplier diversity team and relevant procurement professionals about the availability of qualified participants in Apples Supplier Diversity Program. This helps increase the visibility of these suppliers and can improve their potential for engagement.

Sourcing Process
Apples sourcing process is designed to ensure equal and fair treatment of suppliers so that they can fully participate in a competitive procurement process. We ask suppliers wishing to participate in the process to register with our Supplier Information Database (SID), a secure online database that Apple maintains with regularly updated information on current and potential suppliers. SID enables Apple procurement professionals to access key information about potential and current suppliers, including capabilities, Supplier Diversity certifications, product/service descriptions, Universal Standard Products and Services Classification (UNSPSC) codes, contact information, and so on.

The First Step

The first step any supplier should take in seeking opportunities to do business with Apple is to register with our Supplier Information Database. If your company registers with SID and theres a need for the type of products or services you provide, an Apple procurement professional can then contact you to explore potential opportunities. If theres no immediate opportunity for engagement (as sometimes happens), the information will remain in Apples confidential Supplier Information Database for six months or for as long as

you continue visiting Apples procurement website to keep your companys information up to date. Please note that all purchases are made in the competitive marketplace. Submitting your company to SID does not automatically place your company on a bidders list, nor does it constitute approval of your firm as an Apple supplier or obligate Apple to solicit requests for quotations. Register with the Supplier Information Database
Register with the Supplier Information Database Suppliers are invited to register their information and capabilities with Apples Supplier Information Database (SID). Our Supplier Code of Conduct The Supplier Code of Conduct requires our suppliers to ensure safe working conditions, to treat their employees with respect and dignity, and to establish and maintain environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. Responsible Supplier Management Apple is committed to ensuring the highest standards of social responsibility in everything we do. Apples Unsolicited Idea Submission Policy

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Apple's motto, "Think Differently," is a concept that the company does very well by creating innovative products that continue to define the world of computer design. Other computer manufacturers have attempted for decades to replicate the icono clastic appeal of the Apple design. None have succeeded in the manner of Apple. When Steve Jobs assumed the post of CEO in 1998, he re-revolutionized the entire company. Apple introduced the iMac and iBook product lines for the more basic computer buyers and the Power Book and G series computers for the advanced purchasers. Apple continues to forge ahead in design with the introduction of the iPod digital music player and the iTunes Web site for the sale and download of music. Among giant rival firms, such as IBM, Apple is on the forefront of a revolution of technology, integrating music, images, and animation.

Apple Values
Apple Values are the qualities, customs, standards, and principles that the company believes will help it and its employees succeed. They are the basis for what we do and how we do it. Taken together, they identify Apple as a unique company. These are the values that govern our business conduct: Empathy for Customers/Users We offer superior products that fill real needs and provide lasting value. We deal fairly

with competitors and meet customers and vendors more than halfway. We are genuinely interested in solving customer problems, and we will not compromise our ethics or integrity in the name of profit. Aggressiveness/Achievement We set aggressive goals and drive outselves hard to achieve them. We recognize that this is a unique time, when our products wil change the way people work and live. It is an adventure, and we are in it together. Positive Social Contribution We build products that extend human capability, freeing people from drudgery and helping them achieve more than they could alone. But beyond that, we expect to make this world a better place to live. As a corporate citizen, we wish to be an economic, intellectual, and social asset in communities where we operate. Innovation/Vision We built our company on innovation, providing products that were new and needed. We accept the risks inherent in following our vision, and work to develop leadership products that command the profit margins we strive for. Individual Performance We expect individual commitment and performance above the standard for our industry. Only thus will we make the profits that permit us to seek our other corporate objectives. Each employee can and must make a difference. In the final analysis, individuals determine the character and strength of Apple. Team Spirit Teamwork is essential to Apple's success, for the job is too big to be done by one person. Individuals are encouraged to interact with all levels of management, sharing ideas and suggestions to improve Apple's effectiveness and quality of life. It takes all of us to win. We support each other and share the vistories and rewards together. We are

enthusiastic about what we do. Quality/Excellence We care about what we do. We build into Apple products a level of quality, performance, and value that will earn the respect and loyalty of our customers. At Apple, quality management is critical to our continued success. Individual Reward We recognize each person's contribution to Apple's sucess, and we share the financial rewards that flow from high performance. We recognize also that rewards must be psychological as well as financial, and we strive for an atmosphere where each individual can share the adventure and excitement of working at Apple. Good Management The attitudes and behaviors of managers toward their people are of primary importance. Employees should be able to trust the motives and integrity of their supervisors. It is the responsibility of management to create a productive environment where Apple Values flourish. __________________

Attendees of the American Management Association's Strategic Planning course often ask me, Whats the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement? Heres my answer

Mission Statement
Your Mission Statement describes what business youre in and who your customer is. As such, it captures the very essence of your enterprise - its relationship with its customer. Developing your mission statement is the step which moves your strategic planning process from the present to the future. Thats why, in the figure, the arrow depicting the mission statement connects today with the future. Your mission statement must work not only today but for the intended life of your strategic plan of which your mission statement is a part. If youre developing a five year strategic plan, for example, you develop a mission statement which you believe will work for the next five years. Focus is a primary benefit of your mission statement. It should be broad enough to allow for the diversity (new products, new services, new markets) you require of your business. And it will also be specific enough to provide the focus necessary to the success of your business. Heres an example of a mission statement: Clayton Instruments Company designs and manufactures highly reliable monitoring equipment for use in harsh or unusual environments within the process industries. Note that this mission statement has both an internal and an external dimension. Internally, it describes the products which the company offers: highly reliable monitoring equipment. And it also lists the functions the company performs: design and manufacturing. The mission statement also includes the necessary external dimension. It identifies the customer: the process industries. And it cites the companys market position - the reason why customers would prefer to buy products and services from the company. Specifically, the companys products are for use in harsh or unusual environments.

Vision Statement
Note the arrow (in the figure) which depicts the vision statement. This arrow begins not at today but at some point in the future. Thats because a vision is not true in the present, but only in the future. Your strategy team will need to develop a compelling vision of the future. A vision which your employees will enthusiastically embrace - because the vision is worthy, and because it challenges them to grow. Lets consider an example: that of a drive-up window at a fast food restaurant. The vision might be one of Saving time for busy people. See? A big vision! Providing direction for employees. Some years ago, a client of ours remarked, Our employees are eager to feel a sense of passion; its up to us to tell them what to feel passionate about. Thats what the vision is all about. In order for you to get your employees passionate about your vision, it has to be compelling. It has to matter not just to your management team, but also to your employees. To triple sales revenue next year, doesnt do it. For, who cares? Only a few. To make a difference to customers, to the community, to the world. To improve the lives of human beings. That matters. Your vision should project a compelling story about the future. When Steve Jobs said, An Apple on every desk, well there wasnt then an Apple on every desk. In fact, there wont ever be an Apple on every desk. Thats OK. The vision can be figurative, rather than literal.

The History of the Bitten Apple

LOGO DESIGN ARTICLES The bitten apple is the logo of the well-known computer manufacturer Apple Inc. It is one of the easily recognizable logos in the whole wide world, a fitting symbol to the name of the company behind the picture. Here is one bite out of the apples history, to enlighten readers on how the logo sprang into existence. Newton: Apples First Image

The bitten apple logo has had a complicated yet very fitting history to its current image. The first logo for Apple Inc. during its incorporation in the 1970s was entirely different, but was still related to the apple. To be specific, the first image to represent the computer company was Isaac Newton, the man who first discovered the company when a fruit fell on his head. What was that fruit? You guessed it: an apple! Founders Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne had come up with the logo, citing Wordsworths quote Newton a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought. The Apple Gets Its Turn The Newton logo was short-lived, as designer Rob Janoff right away changed the logo into the familiar apple shape with a bite off its right side. This version is adorned with multiple colors, the familiar colors in the rainbow. Janoffs motivations for the logo revamp have been a subject of several speculations. Some people think that the shift to the apple design was to make it more appropriate for the company name. Others think of it as a more fitting tribute to Newton and his discovery of the colors and gravity. The rainbow colored apple may have been an advertisement for the color capabilities of the second computer produced by the company, Apple II. There are also people who think that the apple symbolizes Alan Turning the father of modern computing who took a bite out of an apple poisoned with cyanide that ultimately took his life. Just lately, the rainbow apple has been phased out and changed. The logo still features the familiar outline of the bitten apple but with a different color scheme. There are currently two color schemes for the symbol: white, and raw aluminimum. The bitten apple logo may have had quite a history, a history whose parts remain unknown to people. However, it has not stopped the logo from being recognized all over the world. In fact, the company does not even have to print its name alongside the logo. The logo itself already tells it all.