Category Archives: Supply Chain Issues

The overturning of E.P.A.’s mandate for biofuel use and associated questions

Posted on January 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (January 26, 2013) describes the overturning of a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding use of “liquids made from woody crops and wastes in car a truck fuels”. But the lack … Continue reading →

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“Earth’s Balance Sheet” discussion by Nestle

Posted on January 26, 2013 by aviyer2010

A discussion with Nestle’s Jose Lopez (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulB-ETDI2wA) focuses on the idea of the Earth’s balance sheet, a concept described by Solomon Darwin in (http://openinnovation.berkeley.edu/Solomon_Darwin_Balance_Sheet_Earth_Executive_Summary.pdf). The idea is to account for the assets that are removed from the earth and not … Continue reading →

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Supply Chain Transparency for apparel by Bruno Pieters in honestby

Posted on January 24, 2013 by aviyer2010

The fashion apparel store (http://www.honestby.com) by Bruno Pieters promises to provide a full description of the supply chain associated with the garment including prices paid at each stage, material details etc. An example look at a 100% silk short sleeved … Continue reading →

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Reclothing, Upcycling – the Schmidttakahashi way

Posted on January 24, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Brander (http://www.thebrander.com/article.php?o=391) describes the Berlin based Schmidttakahashi manufacturer of clothing that creates new apparel from used apparel. The donor of the clothing keeps part of the numbered label and can track the garment’s evolution downstream. But … Continue reading →

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The promise for US gas exports in the future and current plans – a dream or a likely outcome

Posted on January 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (January 4, 2013) describes worries that the promise of US natural gas exports may falter. Currently, US natural gas prices are reported to be $3.30 per thousand cubic feet, while prices in Asia … Continue reading →

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WalMart’s plans to increase sourcing in the US by $50 billion over 10 years

Posted on January 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

A news release (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walmart-to-boost-sourcing-of-us-products-by-50-billion-over-the-next-10-years-186934711.html) describes plans by WalMart to increase US sourcing by $10 billion over 10 years. The steps include longer term purchase agreements for domestic sourcing stability, hosting a manufacturing summit to encourage stakeholders to coordinate including government … Continue reading →

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Nokia’s sharing of 3-D print files for cellphone cases and the future

Posted on January 20, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21084430 describes plans by Nokia to make 3-D print files available to customers so they can print cases on demand on 3-D printers. The ease of access to customizable cases thus lowers the customer’s … Continue reading →

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Using the new Silk Road for trade with China’s interior plants

Posted on January 20, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (December 20, 2012) describes plans by Hewlett-Packard to ship notebook computers by rail to Europe – the new Silk railroad, at 1/3 the cost of air transit, double the cost of shipment by sea, but taking … Continue reading →

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Regulate sulphur content of ship fuels or offer more incentives in Hong Kong?

Posted on January 19, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (January 14,2013) describes the low sulphur content fuel (0.5 percent sulphur), which is 14% of permissible limits, used by the Maersk shipping line. The Hong Kong port offers a 50% reduction in port costs, but that … Continue reading →

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How can garment factory fires be prevented by retailers ?

Posted on January 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (December 10,2012) describes the fires that have killed 400 people in two fires, one each in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Bangladesh supplier was dropped by Walmart for not passing audits, but made the … Continue reading →

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