Tag Archives: Capacity

Otis decides to return manufacturing to an American plant

A Wall Street Journal (Oct 6, 2011) report describes a decision by Otis to move production from Mexico to South Carolina. Reasons cited include (a) 70 % of its customers will be closer to the new plant, (b) Freight and … Continue reading

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Sprint guarantees Apple it will take 30 million iPhones ?

A Wall Street Journal article (Oct 4, 2011) describes a guarantee by Sprint that it will buy at least 30.5 million iPhones in return for the opportunity to offer those phones on its network.  Such volumes in turn enable Apple … Continue reading

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Estimating Apple’s potential revenue based on supply chain partner volumes

A Bloombergbusinessweek (Sept 12-16, 2011) article describes the Apple company forecast that sales will drop 12 % this quarter. But analysis of Apple’s outsourced supply base consisting og Foxconn, Samsung etc that provide 75 % of Apple’s cost of goods … Continue reading

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Using Real time truck fleet data to decrease fuel costs

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (Sept 12-18, 2011) describes used by the 10,000 fleet US Xpress trucking company. By adjusting truck temperatures during a driver 10 hour break to be 70 degrees the first two hours and 78-79 degrees after, the … Continue reading

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“Surge and Purge” contractors for defense services

A BloombergBusinessweek article (Sept 5, 2011) describes the approach in the Pentagon to use “surge and purge” services offered by CACI International and ManTech International. These companies provide the capability required for the specified time frame and are available on … Continue reading

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The benefit of a public private response during an emergency

A BloombergBusinessweek article (Sept 5, 2011) describes how private businesses provided faster and cheaper response compared to the government. Local restaurants provided meals at half the $ 8 price per meal of FEMA rations.  Emergencies in Louisiana now routinely involve … Continue reading

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Indian manufacturer exporting Jaguars from Britain to Asia

The Economist (Sept 24, 2011) describes the Halewood plant (near Liverpool) , part of the Jaguar Land Rover plant owned by Tata Motors. Addition of the Land Rover to the plant has increased its manufacturing capacity and associated employment.  But … Continue reading

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Making cars in high cost Brazil in response to import taxes

The Economist (Sept 24, 2011) describes a 30 percent increase in tax on cars with an exemption for cars made in Brazil, Mexico or the Mercosur trade block. Thus, even though labor costs in Brazil are 60 % higher than … Continue reading

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Nokia volume drops and supplier impact

A Wall Street Journal article (Sept 27, 2011) describes the declining fortunes of Nokia and its impact in suppliers. These suppliers are described as finding that Apple and Android based smartphones are using custom built components that are closed to … Continue reading

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The New Kindle vs the iPad battle

A New York Times article (Sept 26, 2011) describes the impending release of a new tablet by Amazon.com and the ensuing battle with Apple. Amazon provides content – ebooks, music, entertainment – but adding email and games covers the bulk … Continue reading

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