When executives tailor service offerings to each individual market they make sure customers always get the maximum value. This trend has proven to be effective; a good example is the Apple Company. Apple provides pre and post sales service supply chain activities. Service plus product including repairs and warranties rank higher than product only supply chains. Another example would be the Cisco Company, whom offers a variety of service offerings that include: guaranteed damaged parts exchanged and two hour response commitments to replace failed parts. (Cohen) .
There is a current trend called globalization, which falls under global supply chain management. Webster's definition for globalization is as follows: "globalization is the act or process of globalizing; the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets" (Webster). "Global Supply Chain Management represents a central area of focus for many businesses and business schools today" (Mentzer 1). Some factors that have contributed to globalization include continuous sophisticated communication along with transportation technologies and services. There is also the factor of mass migration and international agreements that reduce the costs of doing business in foreign countries. Globalization has forced countries and companies to become more efficient. There are four forces that drive globalization: global market forces, technological forces, global cost forces, and political and economic forces. "With the onset of globalization, managing supply chains has become more complex and business critical than ever before. Companies are outsourcing more aspects of their business to globally distributed supplier networks. The manufacturing process has become infinitely more complex than a simple assembly line.