Dell's manufacturing process covers assembly, software installation, functional testing (including "burn-in"), and quality control. Throughout most of the company's history, Dell manufactured desktop machines in-house and contracted out manufacturing of base notebooks for configuration in-house. The company's approach has changed, as cited in the 2006 Annual Report, which states, "We are continuing to expand our use of original design manufacturing partnerships and manufacturing outsourcing relationships." The Wall Street Journal reported in September 2008 that "Dell has approached contract computer manufacturers with offers to sell" their plants. By the late 2000s, Dell's "configure to order" approach of manufacturing—delivering individual PCs configured to customer specifications from its US facilities was no longer as efficient or competitive with high-volume Asian contract manufacturers as PCs became powerful low-cost commodities. COUNT 5
QSN1 Which of Dell's processes handles PC assembly, testing, and quality control? ANS1 manufacturing QSN2 Where did Dell configure their notebooks? ANS2 in-house QSN3 When did Dell describe their changing approach to manufacturing? ANS3 2006 QSN4 Who reported that Dell was offering to sell their manufacturing plants? ANS4 The Wall Street Journal QSN5 What manufacturers was Dell losing to efficiency-wise? ANS5 Asian