Author Archives: aviyer2010

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About aviyer2010

Dean and H. William Lichtenberger Chair in Management at the School of Management, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

Rare earth price surge and global supply chain response

Posted on November 20, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in Fortune (Nov 7, 2011) describes the impact of the 1500 % price increase for rare earth metals from 2009 to 2010, the result of a 50 % cut in Chinese exports of rare earth metals.  With China … Continue reading →

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Immigrant networks, trust and supply chain speed

Posted on November 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Economist (Nov 19,2011) describes a hypothetical example of a Chinese trader in Indonesia who, seeing a market opportunity for umbrellas, uses his cousin in Shenzhen to quickly source and ship product for sale in Indonesia.  Contract … Continue reading →

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Global Impact on the US oil pipeline supply chain configuration

Posted on November 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (17 Nov, 2011) describes the ripple effect of decreased Venezuelean crude supply (due to the political stress in Venezuelan-US relations) on capacity utilization at Texas refineries that process heavy crude. The alternative crude … Continue reading →

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Ozone regulation, local compliance and manufacturing impact

Posted on November 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (17 Nov, 2011) describes the Federal govt’s decision to retreat from the EPA recommended standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb), a revision of the current 84 ppb rule.  Resistance from manufacturers was … Continue reading →

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Thai floods, hard drive price increases and Dell Impact

Posted on November 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (Nov 16, 2011) describes hard drive prices rising from $10 to $25 due the Thai floods, and their impact on Toshiba and Western Digital plants in Thailand. Earlier reports suggested that around 25% … Continue reading →

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Crashing rare earth prices and impact

Posted on November 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (Nov 15,2011) describes the 67% drop in prices for several rare earths including neodymium, cerium etc.  The rapid price increase in recent years was caused by China, which produces 97% of the world’s … Continue reading →

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Topitop – the “Andean Zara” in Peru ?

Posted on November 16, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (nov 14, 2011) describes the growth in the middle class from 41% to 51% of the population in the last decade in Latin America.  Defined as people earning 45 % to 70% of the per … Continue reading →

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In Alabama -conflict between competitive agricultural products and strict immigration laws

Posted on November 16, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (Nov 14,2011) describes the impact of stricter immigration laws in Alabama – the near disappearance of workers from Guatemala who worked in the tomato fields and fish processing plants.  Given retail competition from importers who pay … Continue reading →

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Borders bookstore operations and its trajectory to extinction

Posted on November 16, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (nov14, 2011) describes supply chain choices by Borders bookstores in its path to extinction. The company’s origins and growth were fueled by careful title sales tracking and inventory management, but its merger with Waldenbooks created an … Continue reading →

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Global steel demand and Arcelormittal’s capacity adjustment

Posted on November 16, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (nov 14, 2011) describes the impact of the doubling of steel capacity in china from 2005 to 2010, the consequent global exports at cut rate prices of supply in excess of chinese demand, and its impact. … Continue reading →

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