Category Archives: Service Operations

The logistics of organ transplants – supply but inefficient distribution

Posted on December 6, 2019 by aviyer2010

An essay in the Wall Street Journal by David Weill titled ‘Supply Isn’t the problem with Organ Transplants” (December 6, 2019), describes the increased supply of organs in the US but an inefficient distribution of the organs to patients who … Continue reading →

Posted in Coordination, delivery, hospital, logistics, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues, transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 55 Comments

Growing retail logistics options for customers causing confusion ?

Posted on November 18, 2018 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (November 18,2018) titled “Black Friday Shoppers Beware:Online Shopping Gets More Complicated” describes the many options for shopping and pickup at retail stores. At Target there are 6 options from store purchase, to curbside … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, logistics, retailers, Service Operations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

TSA’s plans to reduce queues at US airports

Posted on November 17, 2018 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (November 14, 2018) titled “”The Struggle to Make Airport Lines a Little Less Awful” Reports that in 2018 only 2.4% of passengers in the top 40 airports waited more than 20 minutes, compared … Continue reading →

Posted in airport, Capacity, queue, Service Operations, technology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

MicroHospitals and fast service by St Vincent in Indiana

Posted on November 2, 2017 by aviyer2010

An article in IndyStar (https://www.indystar.com/) describes a micro-hospital by St Vincent in Noblesville, Indiana. These micro-hospitals are around 60,000 sq ft, cost $12 million, have seven emergency rooms including one for trauma, four in patient rooms and eight overnight beds. … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, congestion, consumer, emb2019, hospital, imm2018, logistics, Service Operations, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 38 Comments

Smartphone ordering and long lines at Starbucks

Posted on January 27, 2017 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/27/investing/starbucks-long-lines-mobile-ordering-earnings/index.html) describes customer adoption of the Starbucks app to order and pay, but the consequent long wait to get their drinks.  The company expects over 30% of the orders at stores to move to mobile … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, Ecommerce, fairness, Operations Management, ordering, queue, Service Operations, Starbucks, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged | 20 Comments

The supply chain impact of India’s cash crunch

Posted on December 13, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (December 13, 2016) titled “India Hobbles a Cash Crisis, and Electronic Payments Boom”, describes the shortage of the new currency bills in India following its demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee notes (which … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, disruption, retailers, Service Operations, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazon’s cashierless grocery store plans

Posted on December 6, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in Business Insider (December 6,2016) titled “Amazon’s new grocery store highlights a huge hole in Donald Trump’s promise on jobs” describes plans by Amazon to open thousands of stores where customers can check into the store with their … Continue reading →

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, Cost, disruption, logistics, Operations Management, retailers, Service Operations, technology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Danish “hygge” fashion trend in Britain

Posted on November 27, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Guardian (November 22, 2016) titled “The hygge conspiracy” describes the marketing of the Danish concept of “hygge”, which implies cosiness, as a fashion trend. Cashmere cardigans, sewing patterns, wallpaper etc are all linked to this concept … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Global Contexts, labeling, product, Service Operations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will Sweden’s proposed tax breaks for repair and reuse of products improve outcomes ?

Posted on October 2, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Guardian (September 19, 2016) titled “Waste not, want not: Sweden to give tax breaks for repairs” describes a plan to cut value added tax for repairs of bicycles, clothes and shoes from 25% to 12 % and … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Global Contexts, Operations Management, ordering, Service Operations, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Will distributed satellite facilities and automation maintain holiday hiring as volumes grow at FedEx and UPS ?

Posted on September 30, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Sept 30, 2016) titled “FedEx, UPS Gear Up for Holiday Season With More Sorting Hubs, Technology” describes moves by FedEx and UPS to create satellite facilities and mobile delivery centers respectively, and increase … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, logistics, Operations Management, ordering, Prices, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues, technology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment