INTRODUCTION Although outsourcing becomes one of the options for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce costs and increase returns, it has advantages and disadvantages. The following is a discussion on the IBM's decision on outsourcing computer assembly to some electronic manufacturing services (EMSs). It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the decision, and recommends some operations strategies to both IBM and EMSs. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. The main advantages from outsourcing IBM's computer assembly are focusing …showed first 75 words of 2601 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2601 total…L., and Mabert, V. A. (2000), 'Product development partnerships: balancing the needs of OEMs and Suppliers', Business Horizons, (May-June), pp. 59-66. 22.<Tab/>Whitney, C. (2000), 'EMS firms build electronic products behind the scenes', Atlanta Business Chronicle, November, available online at: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2000/11/20/focus10.html?t=printable 23.<Tab/>Zarley, C. (2003), 'IBM outsourcing rolls on', CRN, (January), available online at: http://crn.channelsupersearch.com/news/crn/39304.asp