Tag Archives: Consumers

The impact of short cell phone life cycles in Japan

An article in the New York Times (June 26,2013) describes the example of Sony’s Xperia Z smartphone whose life cycle started on February 9 but ended one month later after selling 1 million units. The dominance of cell phone carriers … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How are US paintbrush makers globally competitive ?

An article in the New York Times (June 18,2013) describes the competitiveness of over 139 broom, brush and mop manufacturers in the US undeterred by competition from CHina. One company, Kirschner, survives by making no changes in its manufacturing and … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should Tesla be permitted to sell cars direct to consumer ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (June 18, 2013) describes the electric car company Tesla’s attempt to sell direct to consumer from its own stores. The company can do so in states such as New York, New jersey, Massachusetts, … Continue reading

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should Europe ban the “beaching” of old ships flying the European flag?

An article in the Wall Street Journal (June 13,2013) describes a move to ban the beaching of old ships (flying European flags), a method used in India and Bangladesh to recycle old ships. Instead, recycling will require use of dry … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oxfam assists Unilever to assess worker conditions at Vietnamese supplier locations

An article in the Financial Times (June 11,2013) describes the use of Oxfam’s personnel by Unilever to audit its suppliers in Vietnam to assess worker management practices. Oxfam focuses on worker wages, working hours and the extent of contract labor … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The “build your own supply chain rule” in India

An article in the Business Standard (June 13, 2013 IST) describes a new rule in India that requires foreign retailers entering the country to create new required supply chain infrastructure and stores worth $100 million, with purchases of existing retailer … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Decreasing production to increase profits at Ferrari

An article in the Financial Times (June 11, 2013) describes a plan to decrease production by Ferrari by 400 vehicles this year, down to 6,900 cars. The plan is to continue to maintain the exclusivity of the brand, add capacity … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

London’s port expansion and volume aspirations

A video in the Financial Times (June 11, 2013) describes the expansion of London’s port by Dubai based DP World. The new port is claimed to be the largest logistics park in Europe and appropriate for the UK, given that … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tracking medicines to prevent counterfeits in the US

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (June 3,2013) describes a plan to install a digital ID on tablet bottles to track them as they move through the supply chain. Individual companies would have to be registered in the Federal licenses and subject … Continue reading

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should the US restrict LNG exports to assist higher margin plastics exports ?

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (June 3,2013) describes efforts by chemical companies like Dow Chemicals to argue against US exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) given the abundance of natural gas in the US. These chemical companies produce polymers and plastics … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment