Tag Archives: China

Is blocking logistics for US coal exports good for the global environment ?

Posted on June 15, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (June 15,2013) describes efforts to block train shipments and port expansion for low sulfur coal from native American reservations. Environmentalists claim that train transport will result in coal dust being blown into rivers … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged China, Cost, Environment, exports, Global, low sulfur coal, Risk, Supply Chain, Sustainable, transport, Water | Leave a comment

Cadmium in Chinese rice – what should a consumer do ?

Posted on May 20, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (May 20, 2013) describes the problem of ‘cadmium rice” – a report that claims that 44 % of the rice tested had twice the level of cadmium (0.4 milligrams per kilogram) as considered … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged cadmium, China, Global, regulation, responsibility, rice, Risk, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Shifting manufacturing from China to other parts of Asia as costs rise

Posted on May 6, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (May 1,2013) describes decisions by Coach to reduce its manufacturing in China to 50% in 2015 (from 80% in 2011), by Crocs to reduce its footwear manufacturing to 65% this year from 80% … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, China, Cost, Environment, Global, manufacturing, Margins, regulation, Risk, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Apple’s supply chain transparency — what do we learn ?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

A recent release of Apple’s supplier list, mapped on Google maps (http://www.chinafile.com/who-supplies-apple-it-s-not-just-china-interactive-map) provides specific locations of 74 component suppliers, of which 331 are in mainland China. A related supplier responsibility report (http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/reports.html) lists audits of suppliers and corrective action, along … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Apple, China, Collaboration, Consumers, Cost, Global, manufacturing, Risk, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Developing Greenland’s mining industry and resource impacts

Posted on February 17, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergsbusinessweek (February 18,2013) describes Greenland, a country protected by Denmark and with a population of 57,000, as containing 1 billion ton iron ore and the 10.5 million ton rare earth deposits that are being eyed for development. … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged China, Global, Greenland, mining, Rare Earths, regulation, Risk, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Manufacturing in Italy – choices made by the 300 year old Richard Ginori porcelain factory

Posted on February 10, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (February 9,2013) describes the travails of the Richard Ginori porcelain factory in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy and its recent bankruptcy and closure. Once a high end porcelain tableware manufacturer, the trends in Italy away … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capability, China, competition, Consumers, Cost, Global, manufacturing, Supply Chain, Survival | 1 Comment

Quicksourcing – using manufacturing in Tijuana to support design in the US

Posted on January 27, 2013 by aviyer2010

An opinion piece in the New York Times (January 26,2013) by Chris Anderson describes his company, 3D Robotics, that has a factory in San Diego and another in Juarez, 20 minutes away but across the border in Mexico. He describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged China, Cost, Global, Imports, Low Margins, manufacturing, Mexico, quicksourcing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged China, Collaboration, Cost, Global, manufacturing, river transport, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Coexisting roles for humans and robots

Posted on January 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (December 17,2012) describes a future where robots coexist with humans to deliver productivity gains. The 64 robots working with 330 humans at Quiet Logistics shows humans doing complex tasks and robots moving material. Given the increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged China, competition, manufacturing, robots, US | Leave a comment

Ramp up delays for inexpensive Indian tablet, or infeasible plans?

Posted on January 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (December 30,2012) describes delivery delays for the $40 tablet promised by Datawind, a Canadian company trying to grow electronics manufacturing in India. With fewer than 10,000 units shipped instead of the promised 100,000, … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capability, China, Cost, Demand Surge, disruption, Global, Loyal Customers, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment