Final answer:
Apple Inc. has addressed criticisms of inhumane working conditions within its supply chain through their Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, which aims to ensure ethical labor practices across the global assembly lines involving numerous peripheral nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The multinational technology company Apple Inc. has been scrutinized for its global supply chain practices regarding the use of assembly plants in Asia. With reports surfacing about inhumane working conditions, the tech giant has faced pressure to reform its supply chain management to ensure ethical standards are met.
Apple's commitment to address these concerns is highlighted in their Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, which outlines the actions they've taken to improve labor practices, enforce supplier responsibility, and oversee the welfare of workers throughout its supply chain network.
The global assembly line model used by Apple demonstrates the complexity of modern manufacturing where different stages, such as design, component manufacturing, assembly, and tech support, are dispersed across various peripheral nations.