Category Archives: Cost

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

Will Roadie provide an alternative cost effective delivery model ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Technology Bubble? Ask Waffle House” (February 24, 2015, http://www.wsj.com/articles/technology-bubble-ask-waffle-house-1424754062?cb=logged0.0031108735129237175) describes an alliance between Roadie (a technology startup) and Waffle House (a 24 hour restaurant). Under the agreement, Waffle House’s 1750 stores will … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, Collaboration, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, Operations Management, retailers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will coordination between e-commerce retailers and carriers ensure on-time deliveries this Holiday season?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 1, 2014) titled “UPS, FedEx Want Retailers to Get Real on Holiday Shipping” describes pleas by the carriers FedEx and UPS to ecommerce retailers to stagger their promotions, avoid promising free overnight … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, mgmt5612018, retailers | Tagged , , , , , , | 74 Comments

The impact of California’s rules for a “Made in USA” label

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 1, 2014) titled “‘Made in USA” Spurs Lawsuits” describes the California Law that even one rivet in a product with such a label that is not made in the USA constitutes false … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Capacity, consumer, Cost, emb2019, Global Contexts, imm2018, labeling, Liability, Made in USA, product, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Auto Demand and supply mismatch worries impact platinum prices

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 29, 2014) titled “Platinum Skids on Car-Demand Worries” describes the recent price drop for platinum and traces the volatility of prices of the metal recently.  A strike in a South African mine … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, Prices, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conscious Supply Chain Management at H&M

A report in Sustainable Brands (http://tinyurl.com/qg5gtn7) titled “H&M Unveils Conscious Denim, Signs Agreement for More Conscious Supply Chain Management” describes initiatives with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Solidaridad and Jeanologia to audit its water use, energy consumption, working conditions, fair … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Adjusting distribution centers for omnichannel success at the retailer John Lewis

An article in CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2, 2014) titled “A Supply Chain Redesign for Omnichannel success” describes changes to the distribution center at the retailer John Lewis to ensure omnichannel success – a 7.2% sales increase in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, consumer, Cost, Ecommerce, productivity, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

The Ebola premium added to cocoa prices ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 19, 2014) titled “Cocoa Prices Surge on Ebola Fears” describes concerns about the cocoa growing regions in West Africa, including Ghana and the Ivory Coast who grow 60% of the world’s supply, … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, Cost, disruption, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

“Parcel” aims to mediate between shipper, carrier and customer

An article in Mashable.com (February 12,2014) and available at http://mashable.com/2014/02/12/parcel/  describes the company Parcel (https://fromparcel.com/) that permits customers to have their online packages delivered to a Parcel shipping address.  Customers then provide details such as preferred delivery time, doorbell ring or … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, Ecommerce, logistics, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | 25 Comments