How they do it: Automakers such as Ford are a typical example of integrators, as they control the whole product process from engineering and manufacturing to marketing and sales but ultimately source a lot of the parts from suppliers. They have strong partnerships with different suppliers and worked collaboratively on developing the individual parts for each model. This allows the suppliers to focus on specific applications of their part and build expertise whereas the OEM can focus on assembly and marketing.
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How they do it: For products directly sold by Amazon in its online store, Amazon controls the whole value chain starting from the point of finished manufacturing. Own branded items allow the company to determine price and availability in its store and also allow for preferred promotion of own-brand products with a potential higher margin.
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How they do it: Carnegie steel controlled not only the mills where the steel was made, but also the mines where the iron ore was extracted, the coal mines that supplied the coal, the ships that transported the iron ore and the railroads that transported the coal to the factory, the coke ovens where the coal was cooked, etc.
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How they do it: Unlike other apparel retailers, Zara does not outsource production of its garments to low-cost manufacturing countries, but operates a number of factories in Spain and other European countries to produce the majority of products in-house. Integrating the different steps in the value chain enables Zara to respond to fashion trends very quickly, in turn positioning them as a leader in the industry.
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