Category Archives: consumer

Not enough new iPhones, strategy or supply chain challenge?

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Why There Are Never Enough New iPhones” (September 18, 2017) describes the new iPhones launched in September 2017 as being available only in November, with possible delivery delays. The introduction if many … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, emb2019, imm2018, Innovation, logistics, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | 94 Comments

Amazon’s physical store and its link to web data

A news report on NPR (http://www.npr.org/2017/08/15/540076527/be-more-than-a-bookstore-a-brick-and-mortar-shop-s-key-to-success)describes an Amazon store in New York City that sells books but uses data captured on the webstore to suggest related books, offer Amazon prime discounts etc. The physical store thus serves as an extension … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, disruption, Ecommerce, logistics, retailers | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

“Drone hives” plan by Amazon for local deliveries ?

An article in USA Today (June 23, 2017) describes a patent awarded to Amazon that describes multi-story warehouses described as drone towers located close to cities. The patent describes these warehouses as locations where packages might be stored prior to … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, delivery, logistics, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Mass faintings at Cambodia factories producing shoes for Asics, Nike and Puma

An article in The Guardian (June 24, 2017) titled ‘Cambodian female workers in Nike, Puma and Asics factories suffer mass faintings” lists the 10 hours per day, 6 days per week schedule faced by workers with short term contracts that … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, Global Contexts, Liability, Operations Management, productivity | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Shoe Manufacturing moving from China to Ethiopia as costs increase

An article in the New York Times (June 1, 2017) titled “Chinese maker of Ivanka’s Shoes Looks for Cheaper labor”, describes the Chinese shoe manufacturer, Huajian International, moving some of their production from China to Ethiopia in response to decreased … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Capacity, China, consumer, Cost, delivery, Global Contexts, logistics, Made in USA, shoes, supplier, Supply Chain Issues, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are “slow growth chickens” the future ?

An article in the New York Times (May 1, 2017) titled “A Chicken that Grows Slower and tastes better” describes a plan by Perdue Farms to develop chickens that take 25% more time to mature, get more time to run … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, chicken, consumer, Cost, disruption, Operations Management, productivity, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Reducing Emergency Room queue time using telemedicine

An article in the Wall Street Journal (March 27, 2017) titled “Can Tech Speed up Emergency Room Care?” describes the increased use of remote care by emergency room doctors at New-York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine.  The Express care program offers emergency … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, productivity, queue, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

Bird flu and global poultry supply chain impact

An article in the Wall Street Journal (March 22, 2017) titled “Bird-Flu Outbreak Brings Pain for Poultry Producers in Asia”, describes the emerging cases of H7N9 bird flu in China, with over 140 human deaths in China this year alone, … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, chicken, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, disruption, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Agristats and possible chicken supply coordination

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 15,2017) titled “Is the Chicken Industry Rigged” describes the increasing profits for chicken manufacturers and a lawsuit about possible coordination. The industry participants subscribe to an information sharing service, Agristats, owned by Eli Lilly, that … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, Liability, Operations Management, ordering, productivity | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments

The costs and benefits of drop shipping to customers

An article in the Wall Street Journal (January 26, 2017) titled “Drop Shipping set to go mainstream as more retailers get on board” describes retailers use of shipping directly from suppliers to customers as a way to increase variety offered … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, Operations Management, ordering, supplier, Supply Chain Issues | Leave a comment