Category Archives: Service Operations

Boeing production rampup and the role of supply chain examiners

Posted on December 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 30, 2011) describes Boeing’s backlog of 3,500 airplanes, worth $ 270 billion, and the need to rampup production by 60 % in the next three years to maintain delivery commitments. Competition from … Continue reading →

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The “hourglass economy”, WalMart and “fishing equipment” assortments

Posted on December 25, 2011 by aviyer2010

An interview with Stephen Quinn, Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart, in Fortune (Dec 26,2011) describes the “hourglass economy” in the US in 2011, with a decrease in the size of the middle class, lowered spending capability for the lower percentiles … Continue reading →

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The impact of HR 2245 “Preserving Access to Life Saving Medications Act 2011”

Posted on December 25, 2011 by aviyer2010

Bill HR 2245 plans to require drug manufacturers to notify the Federal govt, 6 months in advance, of potential shortages. Shortages are defined as situations where the total supply is less than observed demand. The Federal govt is then required … Continue reading →

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Planning the impact of fog, snow and rain at UPS to prevent delivery delays

Posted on December 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Dec 23, 2011) describes the 120 million packages delivered by UPS in the week of Dec 25, with late shipments creating costs between $5 and $ 30. UPS claims that its monitoring of the weather … Continue reading →

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Business Class seat comfort based airline competition and supply chain impact

Posted on December 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (Dec 19,2011) describes airline competition to attract business class passengers, who pay 3 to 10 times the economy fare, are 15 % of the seats but 50% of the flight revenue.Business class seats, with new features, … Continue reading →

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The “internet of things” and supply chain impact

Posted on December 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 18, 2011) describes the role of smart sensors and cameras using real time information to impact health care, energy and water conservation and transportation. A GE project uses cameras in hospital rooms … Continue reading →

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Ebooks more expensive than paper ?

Posted on December 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal ( Dec 15, 2011) describes a decision by book publishers to dictate retail prices for ebooks, with retailers requiring permission before discounting. Given that used paper book prices are set by market trends, … Continue reading →

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Using security cameras to fine tune retail assortment and displays

Posted on December 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (Dec 19, 2011) describes the use of security camera video data to track consumer flows within Montblanc’s retil stores, with software by Retailnet enabling adjustments that increased sales 20 %. Given that individual tracking of customer … Continue reading →

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Balancing Wind, Water energy and salmon interests

Posted on December 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (Dec 7, 2011) describes the coordinating role played by a Federal power agency, Bonneville Power Administration, that was faced with accepting power from hydroelectric and wind sources during stormy weather.  The agency dropped … Continue reading →

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FDA Supplier Shutdown and Cancer Drug shortages

Posted on December 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 8, 2011) describes overdue preventive maintenance, quality issues (such as urine in a can in the storage area) not invetsigated enough and excessive defects in some products.  The result – the Bedford, … Continue reading →

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