Category Archives: Operations Management

Understanding the logic for Tesla’s proposed $5 billion battery plant

An article in the Wall Street Journal (April 2, 2014) titled “Does Tesla Need a $5 Billion Battery Factory” describes Tesla’s planned mass market electric cars (the GEN III) priced at $35,000 and the current $25,500 cost of the 85 … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are the simple European Union conflict materials laws too weak ?

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 →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State laws regarding beer distribution and impact on small breweries

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 →

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

The business of personalizing IKEA products

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 →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple’s efforts on conflict free tantalum procurement

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 →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is web ordering shifting the market share to national chains ?

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 →

Posted in Ecommerce, Operations Management, Service Operations | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Foxconn’s plans for a US manufacturing location

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 →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Anticipatory Shipping” ideas from Amazon

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 →

Posted in Ecommerce, emb2019, imm2018, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments