AMR Research’s annual Supply Chain Top 25 has put Apple at the top of the tree, up from number 2 last year and knocking Nokia off the number 1 slot.
The makers of the iPod came out on top by “winning on all fronts”, recording excellent revenue growth, return on assets and inventory turns.
"With its introduction of the iPhone, Apple could have stumbled meeting demand or failed on quality. It did neither," said the AMR report. "Behind-the-scenes moves like tying up essential components well in advance and upgrading basic information systems have enabled Apple to handle the demands of its rabid fan base without having to fall back on their forgiveness for mistakes."
Dell, Proctor & Gamble and IBM also featured in the top five, with a couple of new entrants in the Top 25 including Sony Ericsson, who replaced the outgoing Motorola in the hugely competitive supply-chain performance stakes for the mobile handset industry.
You can hear a podcast summary of the AMR report findings here.
