Category Archives: Supply Chain Issues

Will managing delivery logistics help Amazon improve service?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (December 23,2015) titled “Amazon Seeks to Ease Ties with UPS” describes the close relationship between the two companies evolving into one in which Amazon is now attempting to control it’s logistics costs, which … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Implications of the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act 2015” passed by Congress

A discussion of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act in (http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/blog/2015/jul/23-0) describes the law’s impact on blocking states from passing voluntary GMO labeling laws. A Cornell study by William Lesser had estimated the impact of such labels at $500 … Continue reading

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Should “digital instructions for physical products” be protected by US copyright laws

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 12, 2015″ titled “Digital Patent cases Faces Skeptics”, describes a current appeals court hearing involving ClearCorrect, a company that used digital data from Pakistan to manufacture custom orthodontic devices, thus violating the … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, intellectual property, Liability, manufacturer, mgmt5612019, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | 62 Comments

John Oliver’s plea to apparel firms about their supply chains

A recent program aired by John Oliver in “Last Week Tonight” (first aired Sunday, April 26 2015) on HBO focused on the link between the demand for inexpensive trendy clothes and associated supply chains. He focused on examples where products … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, Global Contexts, labeling, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | 103 Comments

Amazon’s Dash button for consumers

An article in The Verge (March 31, 2015) titled “Amazon Has invented tiny plastic buttons that simplify ordering” describes Amazon’s partnership with 18 manufacturers to supply wifi enabled buttons that, when pressed, generate an order through Amazon Prime.  These buttons … Continue reading

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, loyalty, manufacturer, ordering, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The impact of California’s rules for a “Made in USA” label

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 1, 2014) titled “‘Made in USA” Spurs Lawsuits” describes the California Law that even one rivet in a product with such a label that is not made in the USA constitutes false … Continue reading

Posted in California, Capacity, consumer, Cost, emb2019, Global Contexts, imm2018, labeling, Liability, Made in USA, product, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Auto Demand and supply mismatch worries impact platinum prices

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 29, 2014) titled “Platinum Skids on Car-Demand Worries” describes the recent price drop for platinum and traces the volatility of prices of the metal recently.  A strike in a South African mine … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, Prices, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conscious Supply Chain Management at H&M

A report in Sustainable Brands (http://tinyurl.com/qg5gtn7) titled “H&M Unveils Conscious Denim, Signs Agreement for More Conscious Supply Chain Management” describes initiatives with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Solidaridad and Jeanologia to audit its water use, energy consumption, working conditions, fair … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Adjusting distribution centers for omnichannel success at the retailer John Lewis

An article in CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2, 2014) titled “A Supply Chain Redesign for Omnichannel success” describes changes to the distribution center at the retailer John Lewis to ensure omnichannel success – a 7.2% sales increase in the … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, consumer, Cost, Ecommerce, productivity, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

The Ebola premium added to cocoa prices ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 19, 2014) titled “Cocoa Prices Surge on Ebola Fears” describes concerns about the cocoa growing regions in West Africa, including Ghana and the Ivory Coast who grow 60% of the world’s supply, … Continue reading

Posted in Capacity, Cost, disruption, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments