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.

Speed vs Screening for Air Cargo

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Page 1, Nov 2,2010) describes plans by the US administration to demand potentially 100 % screening of air cargo.  But the question is whether such screening should apply to the 80 % of air cargo … Continue reading →

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Recycled Paper Availability and Supplier Partnerships

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Page B5, January 10, 2011) focuses on the collaboration with suppliers of recycled paper that paper company SCA – which uses the fiber to make recycled paper for napkins, toilet paper etc.  By investing in … Continue reading →

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Russian Control of 50 % of US uranium in nuclear supply chain

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

A finanical Times article (Page 15, Dec 6, 2010) describes the takeover of Uranium One of Canada by ARMZ – a Russian state owned company and now owns two mines in Wyoming.  The impact is loss of control by the … Continue reading →

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Nuclear propulsion for Civilian Ships – the impact of fuel regulation

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times (Dec 5, 2010) describes how planned regulation of the fuel emissions by commercial ships – is expected to increase fuel costs by 50 % in 2012 due to the level of sulphur content in … Continue reading →

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Cotton Prices surge 91 % and Rayon Use increases

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (6 Jan 2011) describes the quandary faced by apparel manufacturers who face cotton price increases of 91 % over the course of the year.  An alternative is another fabric also obtained naturally, from … Continue reading →

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Toshiba Chip Plant Power Surge and Impact

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Dec 10, 2010) described a 0.07 second power interruption at Toshiba’s Yokkaichi plant. The level of this power interruption was beyond anything planned for, thus causing a shut down of equipment and a potential 20 … Continue reading →

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Zazzle.com and Mass Customization

Posted on December 9, 2010 by aviyer2010

A recent Financial Times article (page 14, Dec 8,2010) describes Zazzle.com – an ecommerce company that offers mass customization of products produced on demand. The company creates digital versions of products that customers use to order the physical products.  The … Continue reading →

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Reducing Material usage to compensate for rising commodity prices

Posted on December 9, 2010 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times (Page 11, Dec8,2010) discusses the impact of commodity price increases – prices of cotton, copper, agricultural inputs.  It summarizes several options – forward buying of commodities, reducing costs by changing formulations, changing processes, substituting … Continue reading →

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Outsourcing Accounting to Sri Lanka

Posted on December 6, 2010 by aviyer2010

A recent New York Times article   (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/business/global/30lanka.html) describes the growing outsourcing of accounting services to companies in Sri Lanka.  The country has a large number (over 10,000) certified accountants with over 30,000 now enrolled.  Given the high literacy rate, and … Continue reading →

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Using phone credits to pay

Posted on December 6, 2010 by aviyer2010

Nicholas Kristof in an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05kristof.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fopinion%2Findex.jsonp) writes about a program by Mercy Corps in Haiti. This NGO will transfer money to people’s phone accounts – the money, in the form of phone talk time, … Continue reading →

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