Category Archives: Global Contexts

Toyota’s Toyotag and engaging consumers

Posted on August 3, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (August 2, 2011) describes Toyota’s use of Toyotags – a “logo inside a ring” that permits customers with smartphones to get specific product information from the mobile bar code, but also permits use of a … Continue reading →

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China’s new products – high end pearls using high tech methods

Posted on August 2, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (August 1, 2011) describes fine pearls being developed in China to compete with Tahitian pearls, but at 10-15 % of the price.   Using proprietary technology and custom equipment to sort pearls enables the Chinese firms … Continue reading →

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“Piccolo bello” fims in Italy and regulation

Posted on July 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (29 July 2011) describes the challenges faced by small Italian firms (“piccolo bello”) which form the backbone of the industry in Padua, Italy.  Firms face the need to work with 10 to 20 different government … Continue reading →

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Boeing design choice for the new 737 and Airbus announcement

Posted on July 29, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (28 July 2011) describes Boeing’s CEO McNerney defending Boeing’s plan to offer an upgraded design for the 737 versus an anticipated new design.   Many in the industry had anticipated a newly designed 737, and this … Continue reading →

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US Auto supply chain recovery from tsunami related glitches and growth impact

Posted on July 28, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (July 27, 2011) links the impact of the tsunami, and part shortages, on US auto production (a drop of 5.9 %) and thus dampened growth of the US economy in the second quarter 2011 (1.9 … Continue reading →

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Dropping rare earth prices in China and supply chain impact

Posted on July 27, 2011 by aviyer2010

The Wall Street Journal (July 6, 2011) reports that rare earth metal prices in China dropped by as much as 7.2 %, a remarkable change from a short few months when China’s cut in exports created worries of global shortages … Continue reading →

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The US and Mexico Truck Transport Agreement

Posted on July 27, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (July 6, 2011) summarizes the recent agreement to let Mexican truckers carry loads into US destinations, thus decreasing trade frictions (cost and time delays) at the US-Mexico border.  In turn, this agreement decreases Mexican tariffs … Continue reading →

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Vertical Integration, Global Supply Chains and reliable power in India

Posted on July 27, 2011 by aviyer2010

The New York Times (July 27, 2011) describes a vertically integrated global supply chain built by the Adani Group – with coal mined in their mines in Indonesia, South Korean manufactured ships transporting it 4,000 miles to their port in … Continue reading →

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Is US Inshoring of manufacturing and services a trend ?

Posted on June 17, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/17/news/economy/made_in_usa/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2) asks if the examples of companies inshoring i.e., bringing outsourced activities back to the US, is a long term trend. The articles identifies GE’s appliance plan in Kentucky that will produce refrigerators and water … Continue reading →

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China cost advantage for manufacturing to disappear by 2015 ?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

A report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) summarized in Supply Chain Digest (June 6, 2011) describes wage growth in China of 17 % a year (vs 3 % in the US) , increasing appreciation of the Yuan and labor … Continue reading →

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