Vertical integration is a strategy that expands the production and distribution roles of a company in the supply chain of a particular industry. This could take the form of backward vertical integration that extends a company’s production towards the beginning of the supply chain. It could also involve forward vertical integration that stretches the company’s span of production control towards the end of the supply chain. A business in the smartphone industry can achieve such upstream or downstream expansions by adjusting its internal operational infrastructure or acquiring other firms.