Dell Computer Corporation entered the twenty-first century with an enviable record as the most successful company in the global computer systems industry. In terms of market share, it is the number one company in the United States, and number two in the world. One bold concept-direct customer contact-has made Dell one of the world's most successful companies 1. Go to http://www.dell.com/ and in the navigation bar at the top of the screen click on About Dell followed by Investor Relations. In the left-hand column, click on Annual Reports and then the HTML version of the most recent Year in Review.

a. In the left-hand column, click on the Five-Year Statistical Review. Most of Dell's net rev- enues are generated from which region? From which product line?

b. How can this information help managers? 2. At the top of the page. click on the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Scroll down until you reach the table of contents. Click on Item: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Scroll down to review the Consolidated Statement of income.

a. Which expense account(s) contain inventoriable costs? Noninventoriable costs?

b. For what reason are noninventoriable costs assigned to products? 3. Scroll down and find Note 13-Supplemental Consolidated Financial Information. Refer to the information regarding inventories. (Note: In the 2000 annual report it was on page 46.)

a. For the most recent year-end. what amount was reported for Production materials inventory? Work-in-process and finished goods inventory? Which type of inventory has the greatest dollar value? What might explain this?

b. Which of these types of inventory includes direct material costs? Direct labor costs? Depreciation on the manufacturing plant?