Category Archives: Global Contexts

Resurgence of US textile manufacturing – an automation driven solution

Posted on September 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times on September 19, 2013 (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/business/us-textile-factories-return.html?_r=0) describes a textile plant, Parkdale Mills, that makes 2.5 millions pounds of yarn using 140 workers now, compared to 2000 workers in 1980. The new plant uses automation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged automation, Cost, domestic, Global, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Risk, Suppliers, Supply Chain, textile | Leave a comment

Lulemon’s CEO’s blame on supply chain issues for poor performance a stretch ?

Posted on September 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 12, 2013) describes a conference call in which Lululemon’s CEO blamed supply problems associated with Luon, a stretch fabric that was the cause of see through black yoga pants that had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, Consumers, Cost, Design, disruption, Inventory, manufacturing, Quality, Retail, Risk, Supply Chain | 1 Comment

Does fast fashion enhance poor garment manufacturer working conditions in Bangladesh ?

Posted on September 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New Yorker by James Surowicki (May 20,2013) quotes MIT political scientist Richard Locke as suggesting that fast fashion, with short cycle times, high variety and demands for quick turnaround, force garment manufacturers to demand poor working … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Apparel, Bangladesh, Capacity, Cost, fashion, fast, Global, manufacturing, Margins, Outsourcing, Supply Chain | 16 Comments

“Disruption clauses” by Mississippi barge operators in contracts with shippers

Posted on August 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 27, 2013) describes the worries of barge operators on the Mississippi river who have been hurt by floods and the drought. The new disruption clauses shift the cost of delays and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged barges, Coordination, Cost, exports, Risk, Suppliers, Supply Chain, transport, Water | Leave a comment

Will consumers pay a premium for ethical transparent supply chains ?

Posted on August 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/26/living/aj-zady-ethical-fashion/index.html?hpt=hp_c3) describes two companies, Small Trades and Zady.com, who focus on providing all details of their supply chain – from the factory location to the employee sewing the apparel. The hope is that fashion conscious consumers … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, competition, Consumers, Cost, ethical, manufacturing, Margins, Outsourcing, Risk, Supply Chain, transparency | 4 Comments

Growing food in the backyard to combat the rising cost of imports in Jamaica

Posted on August 3, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (August 3, 2013) describes the growing cost of food imports, exceeding a billion dollars for Jamaica, and the response. The local population is encouraged to grow in their backyard, including grocery stores and … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged agriculture, competitive, Consumers, Costs, Imports, Jamaica, manufacturing, prices, Sustainable, Water | Leave a comment

Are there lessons to be learned from the manufacturing of the Pagani Huayra automobile ?

Posted on August 1, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 26, 2013) describes the $1.3 million Pagani Huayra, produced one at a time with an annual volume of 20 vehicles and a life time run of 125 cars. Each car’s engine is … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts | Tagged automobile, Capacity, competitive, craft, Italy, limited, manufacturing, one piece, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

A deeper Jacksonville port to accommodate larger ships through the Panama Canal

Posted on July 27, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 27, 2013) describes a move to increase the depth of the Jacksonville port from 40 to 47 inches, through dredging, to accommodate the larger ships that will be passing through the Panama … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged Capacity, competition, Consumers, Costs, Jacksonville port, Panama Canal, rail, Retailers, shippers, ships, Supply Chain, transport | Leave a comment

Shipping HP computers by rail from China to the Netherlands

Posted on July 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 21, 2013) describes Hewlett Packard’s shipment of computers, produced in Chongqing to Oostrum in the Netherlands. The trip takes 21 days, compared to 5 weeks by sea, and is cheaper than air … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged China, HP, logistics, manufacturing, rail, sea, Silk Road, Suppliers, Supply Chain, Sustainable | 3 Comments

Will shuffling aluminum ingots between warehouses increase commodity prices ?

Posted on July 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 21, 2013) claims that commodity traders, who have purchased large stocks of aluminum ingots, but are required to ship out from warehouses at a rate of 3,000 tons. But these traders are … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, Global, Inventory, Risk, Suppliers, warehouse | 1 Comment