The Company Behind The $200M Machine That Powers Your iPhone (And Why It Can't Be Copied)
In the annals of World War II, we often celebrate the generals who led armies into battle. Yet one of the most crucial victories was won not on the battlefield but in the logistics centers of Europe. Lieutenant General John C.H. Lee, nicknamed "Jesus Christ Himself" by his troops, orchestrated what historians consider the most extensive logistics operation in military history.
As the Chief of Services of Supply in the European Theater, Lee managed the herculean task of supplying the Allied forces. His organization moved over 2.5 million troops, 17 million tons of supplies, and billions of gallons of fuel across Europe. Under his leadership, the Red Ball Express, a massive truck convoy system, delivered up to 12,500 tons of supplies daily to advancing Allied armies.
Like Lee's mastery of military logistics, one modern company's true genius lies not in building the world's most expensive machine tool but in orchestrating the complex symphony of suppliers and partners needed to create it. While this tech giant manufactures only 15% of each machine's components directly, it has engineered a network of thousands of specialized suppliers who must meet exacting standards for the remaining 85%.
This logistics mastery has created an unassailable competitive position in the semiconductor industry, it is the sole supplier of these advanced machines—the critical technology needed to manufacture the cutting-edge chips powering today's AI revolution. Just as Lee's logistics prowess helped win World War II, this company's supply chain excellence has made it an indispensable force in the modern technology age.