Category Archives: Global Contexts

Manufacturing Productivity and Small Business Survival

Posted on September 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 7, 2011) describes the labor productivity increase for a small manufacturer with labor costs holding at $ 337 per hour from 2005 to 2010 but the number of employees dropping from 20 to 40 … Continue reading →

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Are Samsung’s Galaxy Tablet Sales real ?

Posted on September 5, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/04/samsung-on-the-run/?utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fortunebrainstormtech+%28Fortune+Brainstorm+Tech%29) describes a statement by a manager at Lenovo that suggests that Samsung’s purported 1 million Galaxy Tablet units shipped to retailers generated just 20,000 units of sales. Did Samsung stuff the channel to gain reputation … Continue reading →

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The “Job Creation vs Environmental Regulation” debate in the US

Posted on September 5, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 5, 2011) describes the current debate in Washington between the Federal government’s planned pollution reduction regulation and purported industry impact. Some E.P.A. studies show that regulations such as the Clean Air Act have been … Continue reading →

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Changing the mix of China’s automobile production

Posted on September 4, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 4, 2011) describes a shift in emphasis in China from increasing manufacturing volume to higher mileage cars.  Car sales increased by 5 % in 2011 compared to a 33 % increase in 2010. Officials … Continue reading →

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A new report on Apple’s China Supply Chain and associated pollution

Posted on September 3, 2011 by aviyer2010

A recent report (http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-II.pdf, published August 31, 2011) questions whether decisions made by Apple’s suppliers continue to have a negative environmental impact.  The report identifies suppliers who release hazardous chemicals into the river or environment, the speed of ramp up … Continue reading →

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The logic of producing more HP Touchpads at a loss

Posted on September 3, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (August 31, 2011)  describes a possible reason HP would produce Touchpads and sell them at a loss (for $ 99, from a list price of $ 499) even though the division is being shut down.  … Continue reading →

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Importing Indian rosewood to Gibson guitar plants, and customs office reaction

Posted on September 2, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (August 31, 2011) describes a raid on factories owned by the Gibson Guitar Corporation that disrupted the company’s supply chain. The focus is on rosewood and ebony fingerboards imported from India. While Indian laws prevent … Continue reading →

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Plan to tighten Clean Air Rules abandoned

Posted on September 2, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 2, 2011) desctibes a plan to abandon improving air quality rules to reduce smog causing chemicals, thus moving to a relaxed standard set in 2008.  Worries about the impact of this new legislation on … Continue reading →

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Advancing US Manufacturing Future

Posted on August 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

An Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (August 29, 2011) by Susan Hockfield, President of MIT, suggests the need for federal investments in advanced manufacturing, similar to past US govt investments to create innovation in electronics, computing, the Internet … Continue reading →

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Should the US Government assist battery manufacturers ?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (‘Does America need manufacturing”, August 24, 2011) described the supply chain impact of federal govt investment in battery manufacturing – the potential impact on scientific research, mining, building contractors, designers, engineers and shop floor employees. … Continue reading →

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