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case study ENG-APPLE001 global supplier network · 2024
apple

251 suppliers.
31 countries.
one standard.

Apple's global supplier network needed compliance training that worked across 31 countries, varying literacy levels, and factory floors with no computer access. Behavior change at scale — not checkbox completion.

01
the challenge

Compliance that crossed
31 countries
and a literacy gap.

Apple's supplier network spans 251 companies across 31 countries. The challenge wasn't translation — it was cultural adaptation, technical simplification, and consistent messaging for workers who might not have computer access, might be semi-literate, and encounter safety risks daily. Existing compliance training was designed for desks. Most of these workers don't have one.

02
the approach

Action Mapping.
Then custom media
for every barrier.

I used Action Mapping to map every compliance requirement back to a specific on-the-job decision. That diagnostic surfaced the real gaps: workers weren't lacking awareness of Apple's Code of Conduct — they lacked a way to receive and apply it in their context. Every design decision followed from that finding.

End-to-end modules covered supplier standards, fire and electrical safety, on-site protocols, and Labor and Human Rights compliance. Culturally adapted. Accessible. Built around decisions, not knowledge.

03
the solution

QR codes on factory
floors. Eight languages.
Zero barriers.

Behavior-focused compliance training delivered two ways: Articulate Rise eLearning for supervisors, and localized animated Code of Conduct videos accessed by scanning QR codes posted directly on factory floors. Suppliers watch a short, clear animation in their native language — no computer required, no literacy barrier, no access problem.

Custom iconography, technical safety diagrams, animation characters, and original scripts were developed for eight language variants across four global production teams.

signature spotlight · fire safety

a fire extinguisher,
inspectable in 3D.

Factory floor safety training doesn't happen at a desk. I built a hands-on 3D inspection viewer that mirrors the real pre-use check — five components, five checklists, one model supplier workers can rotate, inspect, and pass or flag without ever opening a manual.

drag to rotate click markers to inspect
open full-screen viewer

3D model: Fire Extinguisher by Loïc · CC-BY-4.0

3d viewer inspect in 3D, full-screen. Drag-to-rotate works best on a larger screen. Tap to open the inspection viewer in a new tab. launch 3d viewer
ภาษาไทย 한국어 中文 Español Tiếng Việt தமிழ் हिन्दी Bahasa
multilingual delivery

Scan. Watch. Apply.

Code of Conduct training delivered through QR codes posted directly on factory floors. Suppliers scan with their phones and watch a short, clear animation in their native language. No computer. No login. No literacy barrier.

Code of Conduct animation — localized character cast
ภาษาไทย
Representative module preview · cycling localization
  • QR code access
  • Animated
  • Localized (8 languages)
  • Mobile-first
experience the approach

step into a representative module.

A click-through simulation of how Action Mapping transforms compliance content into behavior-focused learning. Four steps, one decision that matters.

Designer's note: demo only — not actual client content. Structure is representative of the modules built for Apple's global supplier network.

Step 1 of 4
Module 01 · Supplier onboarding

welcome to meridian electronics.

You're a new supplier preparing for your first shipment.

Before any production begins, complete this onboarding module to understand the workplace safety protocols and compliance expectations Apple holds across its entire supplier network.

Module 02 · Knowledge check

knowledge check.

Tap each scenario to reveal the correct response.

01
Chemical spill

A worker on the assembly line reports a chemical spill near the ventilation intake.

Evacuate the immediate area, activate the emergency ventilation lockout, and notify the on-site EHS officer. Do not attempt to contain the spill without proper PPE and the dedicated spill kit.
02
Missing certification

An incoming shipment arrives without the required environmental compliance certification.

Place the shipment in quarantine hold, document the gap in the receiving log, and escalate to the supplier compliance lead before any material enters the production line.
03
PPE at the soldering station

A new employee is unsure which PPE is required for the soldering station.

Safety glasses with side shields, nitrile gloves rated for flux exposure, and an active fume extraction unit are required before any work begins. Consult the station's PPE card and the line supervisor.

Reveal all 3 to continue

Module 03 · Decision point

the supervisor overrides.

Scene · Modern electronics facility
the supervisor says

Our deadline is looming. Let's skip the production line inspection for now — everything looks fine.

what do you do?
Module complete

behavior over checkbox.

This module doesn't test whether you memorized policy. It tests whether you make the right call when the deadline is pressing and the shortcut looks tempting. That's what Action Mapping trains for.

  • Module structure 4 steps · 1 decision that matters
  • Scenarios practiced 3 reveals · 3 on-the-job moments
  • Escalation path EHS-routed, not supervisor-overridden
from the design files

custom media for every context.

Custom iconography, technical diagrams, and localized animation characters — built to work without words.

Iconography Custom iconography for Apple fire and electrical safety standards
Technical diagram Technical diagram of facility hydrant and sprinkler system
the full picture

behavior change
at global scale.

Apple supplier compliance — case study document
testimonial · apple
“She does a fantastic job interpreting the technical and dense content and simplifying interactions when needed while still preserving the core messaging.”
liz medhi-kashi · safer design & manufacturing · 2026
the results

behavior change
at global scale.

completion rate across all suppliers
95%
engagement gains
85%
supplier companies trained
251/
videos in 4 languages, built with 4 global teams
8/
next field note

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