Tag Archives: Capacity

Swatch’s plans to cut back component sales to competitors and supply chain impact

Posted on December 10, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Dec 10, 2011) describes a decision by the Swatch Group to cut back sales (to 85 % of 2010 levels and ultimately to zero) of components to competitors. Buying these components from Swatch had enabled … 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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Toyota’s Supply Chain and Currency and Global Risk Impact

Posted on December 9, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (Dec 9, 2011) describes Toyota’s announcement of a 54 % profit drop due to the appreciation of the yen and the floods in Thailand. The strong yen affects Toyota more than other automakers … Continue reading →

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US Battery companies “shocked” by low demands and high costs ?

Posted on December 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 5, 2011) describes the plight of US battery companies, funded by over $ 2.4 billion in Federal grants, but struggling to win contracts from automakers. In the case of Ener1, low sales … Continue reading →

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The Impact of a Euro collapse on global supply chains

Posted on December 5, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Dec 3, 2011) ponders the currency impact of different Euro collapse scenarios.  It suggests that Greece dropping out will cause the euro to go from its current $ 1.34 to the dollar to parity with … Continue reading →

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New Caterpillar US plant location and state level competition

Posted on November 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Nov 25, 2011) describes a decision by Caterpillar to move its small excavator production fom Japan to the US, to be closer to customers. The $150 million plant, expected to generate 1000 jobs, has set … Continue reading →

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Light Bulb regulation in January 2012 and supply chain impact

Posted on November 26, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in he New York Times (Nov 16, 2011) describes the impending regulation that bans manufacturing of the traditional light bulb in January 2012. While sales from inventory can continue, new light bulbs will be required to be more … Continue reading →

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Walmart’s environmental efforts in China and US retail impact

Posted on November 26, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Atlantic (December 2011) suggests that 70 % of Walmart’s $420 billion in sales are provided by 20,000 Chinese suppliers. Walmart’s efforts at decreasing waste, pollution etc thus impact its supply chain in China significantly, and increase … Continue reading →

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Turkey vs chicken supply chains in 2011

Posted on November 26, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Nov 22, 2011) describes the impact of demand volatility on chicken and turkey manufacturers. Turkey manufacturers are smaller and spread out, while chicken has a few large manufacturers. While chicken manufacturers expanded given … Continue reading →

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U.S. multinationals global job growth in the 2000s

Posted on November 26, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (Nov 22, 2011), describes an analysis by the Commerce Department showing that US multinationals cut 865,000 jobs in the US and added 2.9 million jobs in the rest of the world.  In the manufacturing sector, … Continue reading →

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