Intro & Expectations
I had never heard of Flex before, but I figured that they were a behind-the-scenes tech company. I was wholly unaware of what may come from this visit, but I was eager to see what exactly Flex does.
Visit
We were given fancy lab coats and name tags upon our arrival at Flex. We were taken into a presentation room where we were given a showcase of the large flat-screen, high-powered computer that Flex uses during visits from other companies. During this presentation, our presenter showed to us the variety of functions that this computer can use to respond to a disaster in real-time. Functions on the screen allowed for her to get live updates on which specific areas of the country were experiencing, and how quickly she could send Flex resources to that location. All of these analytics regarding the weather data showcased just how advanced Flex's decentralized supply chain was. With efficiency like this, there is no need for your name to be on products.
Next, we were given a tour of the Flex facility. During this tour, we were transported via shuttle to a different building, a building where many of Flex’s products were on display. What amazed me the most during this Flex visit was how far-reaching their technologies were. Flex technology was in everything from smart fridges to Nike equipment. While I thought it likely stressful for the company to juggle so many different fields at once, I was impressed by the culture the company championed. Flex prides itself on upholding the values that drive their culture. Among those values are “Intense collaboration”, “Passionate customer focus”, and a “relentless drive to win”. Continually championed during our time at Flex, the company is a firm believer in the idea that the whole of Flex is better than the parts. Flex as a whole is a company that serves its customers through technologies that are brought together by a variety of researchers. Flex makes sure not to be too greedy with recognition, thus why so many of our classmates had not heard of the company. For Flex, it’s about “winning” or serving the customer, not the spotlight or the recognition.
From the AEG (Advanced Engineering Group) to the relentless push towards more effective approaches to climate change, Flex is a company that may take the backseat in recognition, but pushes the momentum when it comes to creating real change. Flex is taking as large of strides as anybody in Silicon Valley in pushing innovation and modernization. Flex is working on creating the smallest microchips possible with as much information capability as possible, all in an effort to further modernize the future of processing and computing.
Post Visit Actions
I did some research on the history of Flex after my visit. I found that Flextronics was founded nearly 48 years ago and is the third largest global electronics manufacturing company in the world. While I still found it baffling how nobody in my group, including I, knew of its existence.
This just goes to show the many layers that exist in Silicon Valley that don’t necessarily get publicity. Obviously, companies such as Microsoft and Nike are familiar with Flex, because they have both partnered with them, but outsiders such as myself do not recognize them. Flex has such a wide spread and influence of inventory, that they may be their own biggest competitor at times. When so much responsibility falls on a company, whether in the medical or disaster relief field, cracks will show even in the most decentralized of supply chains. Flex may be forced to lighten their workload in intense hurricane seasons such as this one.
Key Takeaways
I had never heard of Flex before, but I figured that they were a behind-the-scenes tech company. I was wholly unaware of what may come from this visit, but I was eager to see what exactly Flex does.
Visit
We were given fancy lab coats and name tags upon our arrival at Flex. We were taken into a presentation room where we were given a showcase of the large flat-screen, high-powered computer that Flex uses during visits from other companies. During this presentation, our presenter showed to us the variety of functions that this computer can use to respond to a disaster in real-time. Functions on the screen allowed for her to get live updates on which specific areas of the country were experiencing, and how quickly she could send Flex resources to that location. All of these analytics regarding the weather data showcased just how advanced Flex's decentralized supply chain was. With efficiency like this, there is no need for your name to be on products.
Next, we were given a tour of the Flex facility. During this tour, we were transported via shuttle to a different building, a building where many of Flex’s products were on display. What amazed me the most during this Flex visit was how far-reaching their technologies were. Flex technology was in everything from smart fridges to Nike equipment. While I thought it likely stressful for the company to juggle so many different fields at once, I was impressed by the culture the company championed. Flex prides itself on upholding the values that drive their culture. Among those values are “Intense collaboration”, “Passionate customer focus”, and a “relentless drive to win”. Continually championed during our time at Flex, the company is a firm believer in the idea that the whole of Flex is better than the parts. Flex as a whole is a company that serves its customers through technologies that are brought together by a variety of researchers. Flex makes sure not to be too greedy with recognition, thus why so many of our classmates had not heard of the company. For Flex, it’s about “winning” or serving the customer, not the spotlight or the recognition.
From the AEG (Advanced Engineering Group) to the relentless push towards more effective approaches to climate change, Flex is a company that may take the backseat in recognition, but pushes the momentum when it comes to creating real change. Flex is taking as large of strides as anybody in Silicon Valley in pushing innovation and modernization. Flex is working on creating the smallest microchips possible with as much information capability as possible, all in an effort to further modernize the future of processing and computing.
Post Visit Actions
I did some research on the history of Flex after my visit. I found that Flextronics was founded nearly 48 years ago and is the third largest global electronics manufacturing company in the world. While I still found it baffling how nobody in my group, including I, knew of its existence.
This just goes to show the many layers that exist in Silicon Valley that don’t necessarily get publicity. Obviously, companies such as Microsoft and Nike are familiar with Flex, because they have both partnered with them, but outsiders such as myself do not recognize them. Flex has such a wide spread and influence of inventory, that they may be their own biggest competitor at times. When so much responsibility falls on a company, whether in the medical or disaster relief field, cracks will show even in the most decentralized of supply chains. Flex may be forced to lighten their workload in intense hurricane seasons such as this one.
Key Takeaways
- The products Flex uses are in everything from medical equipment to TVs
- State-of-the-art computer systems help Flex track global trends and events.
- Flex does not like to brand itself on its products