Apple Reigns Supreme in 2011

Apple Inc. was the supply chain king in 2011, at least according to Gartner Inc.'s standards. The technology research firm ranked Apple No. 1 on its annual Top 25 Supply Chains list published in May.

Similarly, Apple takes the top spot on this year's IW 50 Best U.S.  Manufacturers list, with supply chain performance playing a significant role in its No. 1 ranking. Apple's inventory turn rate was 70.5 in 2011. This is calculated by dividing the cost of goods sold, which for Apple was $64.4 million, by the company's average amount of inventory over the past two years.

Apple's inventory turn rate was second only to Houston-based natural gas producer Targa Resources Partners LP (IW 50 rank No. 45), an IW 50 newcomer that went public in December 2010. Apple also ranked second in return on assets, just behind Coach Inc., at 34.5%. Boosted by sales of its popular iPhone and iPad mobile devices, the Cupertino, Calif.-based manufacturer achieved the third-highest IW 50 revenue gain with a growth rate of 66% in 2011. (Click here for "Apple's Road to the Top")