Tag Archives: Cost

Oxfam assists Unilever to assess worker conditions at Vietnamese supplier locations

Posted on June 12, 2013 by aviyer2010

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

Posted on June 12, 2013 by aviyer2010

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

London’s port expansion and volume aspirations

Posted on June 12, 2013 by aviyer2010

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

Posted on June 11, 2013 by aviyer2010

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 ?

Posted on June 11, 2013 by aviyer2010

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

Palm oil using manufacturer constraints impact Indonesia’s forests

Posted on June 11, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (June 3,2013) describes sourcing restrictions for palm oil by Nestle, Unilever and Cargill which bans palm oil grown in virgin rain forest land. The impact is a move by the Indonesian government to ban virgin rain … Continue reading →

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

Apple’s 30% commission elimination and price increase

Posted on June 11, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (June 10, 2013) describes the Justice department’s claim that Apple’s 30% revenue sharing contract (uniform for all products Apple sells) is a violation of antitrust and uncompetitive. The article claims that when this … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are European manufacturers globally competitive in making premium components or products ?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times (May 29, 2013) describes a collection of Italian manufacturers – Luxottica for eyewear, Sogefi for premium auto parts and Guala Closures for premium bottle caps that prevent counterfeiting. They compete globally to make premium … Continue reading →

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

US forests to fuel European power plants – a green supply chain ?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (May 28, 2013) describes exports of US forest generated pellets to replace coal in European power plants as Europe cuts down on fossil fuel use and tries to decrease emissions of carbon dioxide. … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The emerging “internet of things” and opportunities

Posted on May 22, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in WIRED magazine (June 2013) describes the emerging internet enabled devices across homes, factories, cities etc. They predict three stages – Stage 1 links devices to the internet, Stage 2 enables conditional actions (If-Then actions) between pairs of … Continue reading →

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