Category Archives: Cost

$3 billion worth cancer drugs wasted due to package size ?

An article in CNN.com titled “Why is $3 billion worth of cancer drugs being thrown away?” describes the 100 mg doses of the drug Keytruda, sold by Merck, and the 140 mg treatment requirement for a single patient, that leaves … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, hospital, ordering, Prices, product, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Product of Italy” or “Made in Italy” labels

An article in the New York Times (February 28, 2016) titled “Italy Growers Wary of Olive Oil Fraud as New Law is Weighed” , describes details of the “product of” law for olive oil as requiring use of Italian know … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, Global Contexts, labeling, manufacturer, Prices, product, Sustainability, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Will managing delivery logistics help Amazon improve service?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (December 23,2015) titled “Amazon Seeks to Ease Ties with UPS” describes the close relationship between the two companies evolving into one in which Amazon is now attempting to control it’s logistics costs, which … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Will shared luxury car buying succeed?

An article in the Financial Times (February 19, 2016) titled “Car-sharing tests boundaries of the motor industry” describe a company, Orto, that plans to offer four customers shared ownership of cars such as Jaguar F-type. Owners get access for 170 … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, Collaboration, consumer, Cost, Ecommerce, logistics, manufacturer | Tagged | 1 Comment

Will rethinking operations improve hospital outcomes?

An article in the New York Times (February 2, 2016) titled “Hospitals Focus on Doing No Harm”, describes the dramatic impact of operational changes on outcomes, with an eye to reducing the 75,000 preventable deaths nationwide. Orlando Health reports reducing … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, consumer, Cost, emb2021, hospital, imm2019, logistics, Service Operations, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 58 Comments

Will negative interest rates cause suppliers to demand later payments?

An article in the New York Times (February 12, 2016) titled “Negative 0.5 % interest rates: Why people are paying to save”, asks if suppliers, in a shift from the past, prevent buyers from paying up front. The logic is … Continue reading

Posted in competitiveness, Cost, delivery, emb2021, logistics, manufacturer, ordering | Tagged , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

The role of logistics competitiveness in Airbus’s Mobile, Alabama assembly plant decision

A New York Times article (September 18, 2015) titled “First US Airbus Factory Gives Wings to Revival in Mobile, Alabama” describes parts being flown in from Europe for assembly of the A321 jet in the Mobile plant. But the article … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, competitiveness, Cost, logistics, manufacturer, Operations Management, ordering, productivity, Railroad, Train, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Brick and mortar stores using ecommerce tricks

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 12, 2015) titled “Web retailers Teach In-store Tricks” describes Macy’s display of one item each of swimsuits, with shoppers using an app to get their size to try on. Freeing up the … Continue reading

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, Cost, product, retailers, Service Operations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

John Oliver’s plea to apparel firms about their supply chains

A recent program aired by John Oliver in “Last Week Tonight” (first aired Sunday, April 26 2015) on HBO focused on the link between the demand for inexpensive trendy clothes and associated supply chains. He focused on examples where products … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, Global Contexts, labeling, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | 103 Comments

Amazon’s Dash button for consumers

An article in The Verge (March 31, 2015) titled “Amazon Has invented tiny plastic buttons that simplify ordering” describes Amazon’s partnership with 18 manufacturers to supply wifi enabled buttons that, when pressed, generate an order through Amazon Prime.  These buttons … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, loyalty, manufacturer, ordering, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment