Select a company of your choice, and calculate the most current days of working capital (DWC) that are available. Review page 656 in the textbook, and
watch the short video segment “Working Capital,” which is one of the required unit resources in this unit. In addition to your calculations, include the
information below in your essay.
1. How does this company’s ratio compare to those of its competitors?
2. Why is comparing this ratio to the industry average important?
3. Explain how a well-managed supply chain can come into play here.

 

 

 

Sample Solution

I have chosen to calculate the Days Working Capital (DWC) of Apple Inc., one of the world’s largest technology companies. According to their most recent financial statement dated December 28, 2019, Apple’s current assets are valued at $128.2 billion while its current liabilities stand at $86.5 billion – resulting in a DWC ratio of 104 days worth of working capital for them (128.2-86.5/86.5).

Sample Solution

I have chosen to calculate the Days Working Capital (DWC) of Apple Inc., one of the world’s largest technology companies. According to their most recent financial statement dated December 28, 2019, Apple’s current assets are valued at $128.2 billion while its current liabilities stand at $86.5 billion – resulting in a DWC ratio of 104 days worth of working capital for them (128.2-86.5/86.5).

When compared to other competitors such as Microsoft or Amazon, we can see that Apple’s DWC is extremely healthy; both these firms have ratios that are consistently lower than 70 days whereas Apple has been able to maintain an average above 100 days since 2016 – indicating they possess better resource management capabilities while also having more liquidity available in case unexpected expenses arise.

Comparing this ratio to industry averages is important because it helps us gauge how efficiently a company utilizes their resources relative those around them; if for example we find out that most firms within the same sector manage an average DWC of 120 days but ours falls below 90 then it could indicate potential problems with our operations or supply chain management which needs rectifying sooner rather than later.

Finally, having a well-managed supply chain can be key when trying to maximize working capital efficiency too: understanding market fluctuations ahead and thus gauging demand correctly helps reduce excess spending on unnecessary inventory while enabling greater flexibility should customer orders change unexpectedly; being able to adjust production schedules accordingly allows businesses like Apple keep costs down significantly over time despite operating in highly competitive markets as well!

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