Category Archives: Operations Management

Are the simple European Union conflict materials laws too weak ?

Posted on March 30, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in The Guardian (March 26, 2014) titled “Conflict minerals: new EU rules simpler alternative to US regulation” describes draft legislation that is voluntary, requires the manufacturer to determine areas that are conflict afflicted and just requires use of … Continue reading →

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Will buyers paying a penny a pound more for tomatoes help farm workers ?

Posted on March 30, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in ozy.com (January 16,2014) titled “A Penny a Pound and so much more”, describes the push by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to get buyers like Taco Bell, Subway, McDonalds, WalMart and Whole Foods to pay a penny … Continue reading →

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State laws regarding beer distribution and impact on small breweries

Posted on March 30, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (March 30, 2014) titled “Free Craft Beer!” describes the franchise rule in many US states that requires beer manufacturers to choose one distributor in a state to distribute their product. The absence of … Continue reading →

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The business of personalizing IKEA products

Posted on March 30, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 24,2014) titled “Cry of the Style. Mavens” describes smaller companies that enable customers to personalize their IKEA products. Companies like Bemz provide slipcovers for chairs, couches and beds, and Superfront, that modifies kitchens and wardrobes, … Continue reading →

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Apple’s efforts on conflict free tantalum procurement

Posted on February 14, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article published by the Financial Times titled “Apple to name and shame suppliers of conflict minerals” (February 13, 2014) describes Apple’s “supplier responsibility” report. Given the Dodd-Frank bill’s requirement to track use of conflict materials, Apple plans to use … Continue reading →

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Will delaying online cab service pickups by 15 minutes increase competition in France

Posted on February 12, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Uber, Taxis engage in French Street Fight” (30 December 2013) describes a proposal to impose a 15 minute delay between the online order and pickup by online by limo service companies like … Continue reading →

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Is web ordering shifting the market share to national chains ?

Posted on February 9, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Big Pizza Chains use web ordering to slice out a bigger market share” (February 6,2014), describes an increase in the market share for large pizza chains to 52% from 47% in 2009, … Continue reading →

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Foxconn’s plans for a US manufacturing location

Posted on January 27, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Foxconn Weighs Plan for US Plant” (January 27,2014) describes a statement by Foxconn’s chairman that the company would invest in capital intensive manufacturing in the US. He claims that the company plans … Continue reading →

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“Anticipatory Shipping” ideas from Amazon

Posted on January 24, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the CBS News website (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-files-patent-for-anticipatory-shipping/) titled “Amazon files patent for anticipatory shipping” provides an outline of the idea. The key is that goods would be shipped out before the customer places the order so that the deliveries … Continue reading →

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The many reasons for Christmas delivery delays by UPS

Posted on January 18, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in Supply Chain Digest (Jan 6, 2014) available at (http://www.scdigest.com/ontarget/14-01-06-2.php?cid=7717) discusses reasons for the delivery delays of Christmas orders handled by UPS. While UPS anticipated an 8% increase in shipment volume, and added 55,000 employees and 23 aircraft, … Continue reading →

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