what is the difference between horizontal integration and vertical integration 
horizontal integration is the strategy of acquiring other companies that reside along a similar area of the supply chain for example a manufacturer may acquiring a competing manufacturing firm to better enhance its process labor force and equipment vertical integration occurs when a company acquires a company outside of their current position along the supply chain for example a manufacturer may acquire a retail company so that the manufacturer can not only control the process of making the good but also selling the good as well 