Category Archives: Collaboration

Pepsico’s guaranteed price corn purchases from small farmers in Mexico

Posted on February 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the International Herald Tribune (February 22, 2011) describes Pepsico’s guaranteed price purchase (upfront) of corn from small farmers in Mexico. The farmers use the contract to buy seeds, fertilizer and equipment. Buying from these farms close to … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

China to Stockpile Rare Earth Metals, should the US do so too ?

Posted on February 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (February 7,2011) describes plans by the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources to build reserves of rare earth metals in order to protect their industries, impact pollution and manage the supply and demand relationship for … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, emb2019, Global Contexts, imm2018, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Retailer Barneys and Designer brand Prada Disagree

Posted on February 6, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (5 February 2011) describes a proposal by Prada to lease space from the Barney’s retail store and manage its inventory and pricing.  This proposal was rejected by the retailer, that prefers to attract customers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Operations Management, Service Operations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

European Commission Report on Commodities and Raw Materials

Posted on February 4, 2011 by aviyer2010

A recent report from the European Commission on “Tackling the Challenges in Commodity Markets and on Raw Materials” describes a variety of tactics including (a) increasing transparency across the supply chain and coordination with partners to monitor use of mining … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Understanding Rare Earths Supply Chains – a DOE Report

Posted on January 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

For supply chain managers interested in rare earth supply chains, a DOE report, available at  http://www.energy.gov/news/documents/criticalmaterialsstrategy.pdf provides a comprehensive summary. Currently, 97 % of the world’s rare earth metals are sourced from China. A few highlights of the report (a) … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

WalMart and Healthy Food

Posted on January 20, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (January 20, 2011, B1) described WalMart’s announcement to lower salt, fat and  sugars in packaged foods and decrease prices of fruits and vegetables over the next five years. Specifically the company plans to reduce sodium … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Slow Steaming, Extra Slow Steaming and Antitrust Exemption

Posted on January 19, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Supply Chain Digest article (January 13, 2011,http://www.scdigest.com/ontarget/11-01-13-1.php?cid=4091) describes discussions between shipping carriers that transport between Asia and the US to slow down speeds and decrease their environmental impact. Slow steaming reduces speed from 25 knots to 18 knots and … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Initiatives to protect the Global Supply Chain

Posted on January 18, 2011 by aviyer2010

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal (Januray 6,2011) describing the challenges and efforts to protect the Global Supply Chain. Products ordered by consumers today may often involve components, subassemblies and packaging … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rare Earths Sourcing in Japan

Posted on January 13, 2011 by aviyer2010

Businessweek (Jan 10, 2011, page 9) has an article discussing the supply of rare earth metals (neodymium, dysprosium etc).  China supplies 97 % of the world’s demand for rare earth metals – but cut exports by 72 % in 2010 … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Collaboration, Service Operations, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment