the series of stages involved in the design, manufacture, marketing and support of a product, each of which adds value to it （产品的）价值链◆She analysed a typical value chain for books, breaking the costs down into separate areas. 她分析了典型的书籍价值链，把成本细分为各环节。
a series of companies that includes the company that makes a product and those that add extra features to it before it is sold to the customer （公司的）价值链◆The company wishes to own more of the value chain. 这家公司希望掌控价值链的更多环节。