Category Archives: Supply Chain Issues

Sarin antidote stockpiles, supply problems and extension of expired drugs

Posted on September 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 13, 2013) describes supply problems for antidotes for Sarin due to manufacturing issues, that result in less than the stated dosage, in prefilled syringes made by Pfizer. The impact is possible erroneous … Continue reading →

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

Will Apple’s two different market segment phone offerings help or hurt?

Posted on September 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (September 11,2013) describes possible issues caused by Apple’s decision to offer the iPhone in a 5S and a 5C configuration, priced at $550 and $400. The cheaper model will have a plastic body … Continue reading →

Posted in Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Does fast fashion enhance poor garment manufacturer working conditions in Bangladesh ?

Posted on September 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New Yorker by James Surowicki (May 20,2013) quotes MIT political scientist Richard Locke as suggesting that fast fashion, with short cycle times, high variety and demands for quick turnaround, force garment manufacturers to demand poor working … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Will a flat-fee model by publishers for ebook access work ?

Posted on September 3, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 3, 2013) describes a proposal by two companies, eReatah and Oyster, to provide a flat-fee access to ebooks. eReatah plans to offer 80,000 titles and offers a $16.99/month for two books or … Continue reading →

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Auto supply shortages in the US and impact

Posted on September 3, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 3,2013) describes supply constraints faced by US auto dealers for cars made by Nissan, Ford, Toyota and Honda. Dealers report having significantly lower inventories, one car instead of the normal 15 in … Continue reading →

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“Disruption clauses” by Mississippi barge operators in contracts with shippers

Posted on August 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 27, 2013) describes the worries of barge operators on the Mississippi river who have been hurt by floods and the drought. The new disruption clauses shift the cost of delays and the … Continue reading →

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Will consumers pay a premium for ethical transparent supply chains ?

Posted on August 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/26/living/aj-zady-ethical-fashion/index.html?hpt=hp_c3) describes two companies, Small Trades and Zady.com, who focus on providing all details of their supply chain – from the factory location to the employee sewing the apparel. The hope is that fashion conscious consumers … Continue reading →

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Growing food in the backyard to combat the rising cost of imports in Jamaica

Posted on August 3, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (August 3, 2013) describes the growing cost of food imports, exceeding a billion dollars for Jamaica, and the response. The local population is encouraged to grow in their backyard, including grocery stores and … Continue reading →

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A deeper Jacksonville port to accommodate larger ships through the Panama Canal

Posted on July 27, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 27, 2013) describes a move to increase the depth of the Jacksonville port from 40 to 47 inches, through dredging, to accommodate the larger ships that will be passing through the Panama … Continue reading →

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Shipping HP computers by rail from China to the Netherlands

Posted on July 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (July 21, 2013) describes Hewlett Packard’s shipment of computers, produced in Chongqing to Oostrum in the Netherlands. The trip takes 21 days, compared to 5 weeks by sea, and is cheaper than air … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments