Tag Archives: Design

Samsung vs Apple supply chains for successful cell phones

Posted on April 23, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (April 1,2013) describes Apple’s supply chain strategy which outsources all hardware but controls software access and apps to Samsung’s strategy that produces all hardware but uses the Android open source software. Does producing components for competitors … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged cellphones, Consumers, control, Cost, Design, Margins, software, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

The impact of a US-Europe free trade agreement on supply chains

Posted on March 6, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (February 13,2013) describes President Obama’s plan for a free trade agreement with Europe thus impacting the 3% duty on the $646 billion in trade. But more than duties, it is the harmonization of … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Consumers, Cost, Design, free trade, Global, manufacturing, regulation, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Is “Punk” the fashion trend ?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times (March 3,2013) describes the influence of the announcement of the “Punk” theme for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute’s exhibition. Jimmy Choo’s handcuff bag with key, Cesare Casadei’s blade heeled shoe, Versace’s “Vunk” featuring heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Consumers, Coordination, Cost, Design, Efficiency, fashion trend, Retail, Risk, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

The cocoa global supply chain and looming issues

Posted on February 10, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 11, 2013) describes cocoa manufacturing projected shortfalls of 50,000 tons compared to demand in 2012-13, while prices dropped 74% from 2011 to 2012. Production shortfalls were provided by a global stockpile of 1.5 years of … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged cocoa, Cost, Design, Efficiency, Global, Growth, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Transporting wine in bulk in plastic bags from Australia to the UK

Posted on February 9, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 7,2013) describes shipments of Australian wine in 24,000 liter plastic bags that are then packed in the UK. Saving 25 cents per bottle by shipping without the bottle enables the wine to be sold for … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, Design, Environment, Global, Supply Chain, Sustainable, transport | Leave a comment

Should the US government permit recycling of scrap metal from nuclear sites?

Posted on January 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (January 17,2013) describes a plan by the US government to release scrap metal from nuclear sites. The scrap is described as containing low enough levels of radioactivity – comparable to exposures in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged Cost, Design, disruption, regulation, Risk, Service, Supply Chain, Sustainable | 1 Comment

Decoy bottles to track painkiller medicine robbers

Posted on January 18, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (January 17,2013) describes a plan by PurduePharma to hold fake decoy bottles with tracking capability in drugstore shelves. When thieves steal painkiller bottles, they emit tracking signals that the New York City police … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecommerce, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Consumers, Coordination, Cost, Design, Ecommerce, Retail, Service, Supply Chain | 1 Comment

How should the excess steel capacity problem be solved ?

Posted on November 28, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (November 28, 2012) describes the glut in steel capacity -an estimated 1.8 billion tons, compared to demand which is 1.5 billion tons. The reason, fragmented capacity with the top five companies comprising 18.2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, China, competition, Consumers, Coordination, Cost, Design, Global, manufacturing, Supply Chain, Survival, Trends | Leave a comment

The projected impact of insufficient port improvements on the US economy

Posted on September 22, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Supply Chain Management Review (Sept 17, 2012 http://www.scmr.com/article/the_american_society_of_civil_engineers_say_u.s._supply_chains_at_risk/?goback=.gde_115985_member_165825492) states that investments in US marine ports ad waterways upkeep from now to 2020 is planned to be $ 16 billion lower than required, while investments in airports … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, Consumers, Cost, Design, Efficiency, Infrastructure, Inventory, regulation, Risk, Service | Leave a comment

The high cost impact of choices made for the GM Volt hybrid vehicle

Posted on September 10, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article by Reuters (September 10, 2012, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/us-generalmotors-autos-volt-idUSBRE88904J20120910) describes General Motors as losing $ 49,000 on each Volt it builds. The costs are due to developmnt and tooling costs, number of unique parts in the battery pack and motor as … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged automobiles, Consumers, Cost, Design, GM Volt, manufacturing, Margins, Suppliers, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment