Category Archives: Operations Management

Can “Buy American” Hurt US firms ?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 16,2009) desribes the “Buy American” laws that are part of the US government’s stimulus package.  But companies whose supply chains include Canadian suppliers, like Aquarius, a manufacturer of sewage treatment equipment, are … Continue reading →

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Russian Control of 50 % of US uranium in nuclear supply chain

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

A finanical Times article (Page 15, Dec 6, 2010) describes the takeover of Uranium One of Canada by ARMZ – a Russian state owned company and now owns two mines in Wyoming.  The impact is loss of control by the … Continue reading →

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Nuclear propulsion for Civilian Ships – the impact of fuel regulation

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times (Dec 5, 2010) describes how planned regulation of the fuel emissions by commercial ships – is expected to increase fuel costs by 50 % in 2012 due to the level of sulphur content in … Continue reading →

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

Cotton Prices surge 91 % and Rayon Use increases

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (6 Jan 2011) describes the quandary faced by apparel manufacturers who face cotton price increases of 91 % over the course of the year.  An alternative is another fabric also obtained naturally, from … Continue reading →

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Toshiba Chip Plant Power Surge and Impact

Posted on January 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Dec 10, 2010) described a 0.07 second power interruption at Toshiba’s Yokkaichi plant. The level of this power interruption was beyond anything planned for, thus causing a shut down of equipment and a potential 20 … Continue reading →

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Quidsi, Diapers.com and $ 500 million of diapers

Posted on October 17, 2010 by aviyer2010

Bloomberg Businessweek (Oct 11, 2010) has a story about Quidsi, the holding company that owns Diapers.com and Soap.com. The story reports on how a focus on diapers, with low 5-7 % margins, has enabled the company to build a loyal … Continue reading →

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iPad Sales Growth and Global Supply Chain Impact

Posted on October 13, 2010 by aviyer2010

iSuppli (weblink http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/20/isuppli-boosts-ipad-sales-estimates-through-2012-to-nearly-100-million/) suggests a three year demand for iPads of 100 million units.  Even from the start of the year 2010 through the end, for a product whose category did not exist before its launch, the estimate is close … Continue reading →

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Supplier Diversification and survival

Posted on October 13, 2010 by aviyer2010

A Financial Times article (“Suppliers Shift Gears to Survive”, FT, Oct 5,2010) describes small to medium sized firms struggle for survival. But it brings up an interesting issue – can firms that monitor participants in the supply chain (that they … Continue reading →

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Baristas at Starbucks – “No More than two Drinks”

Posted on October 13, 2010 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Oct 13,2010) reports current plans at Starbucks to improve the quality of drinks by making them fresher. The new process cuts batching – requiring milk be frothed separately for each order. It also restricts barista to … Continue reading →

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Tod’s – “A Shoemaker that walks”

Posted on October 10, 2010 by aviyer2010

The New York Times (Oct 8,2010) reported on Tod’s an Italian shoemaker that has maintained manufacturing in Italy, and does all of its design and development based on the founding family’s instinct for comfortable design. The company focuses on its … Continue reading →

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