Tag Archives: Design

Swatch’s plans to cut back component sales to competitors and supply chain impact

A New York Times article (Dec 10, 2011) describes a decision by the Swatch Group to cut back sales (to 85 % of 2010 levels and ultimately to zero) of components to competitors. Buying these components from Swatch had enabled … Continue reading

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Managing retail customer queues to decrease dissatisfaction

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 8, 2011) describes retail queues and consumer perceptions of waiting time.  While a single queue is mathematically ideal as an approach to decrease average wait times, consumers perceive any waiting time greater … Continue reading

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Rare earth price surge and global supply chain response

An article in Fortune (Nov 7, 2011) describes the impact of the 1500 % price increase for rare earth metals from 2009 to 2010, the result of a 50 % cut in Chinese exports of rare earth metals.  With China … Continue reading

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Global Impact on the US oil pipeline supply chain configuration

An article in the New York Times (17 Nov, 2011) describes the ripple effect of decreased Venezuelean crude supply (due to the political stress in Venezuelan-US relations) on capacity utilization at Texas refineries that process heavy crude. The alternative crude … Continue reading

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Barnes & Noble swapping book space for e-readers

A Wall Street Journal article (Oct 29, 2011) describes a plan by Barnes & Noble to double the square feet devoted to e-readers to 2000 sq ft in a 26,000 Sq ft store. The space will be freed up by … Continue reading

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Strategies to decrease procurement costs – not just a price focus

In a talk by Mr Haaije van der Brug, Procurement Manager for Shell in Russia, on October 18, 2011, he described the 40/40/20 practice at Shell. The claim is that cost savings are generated only 20 % of the time … Continue reading

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Tracking the US supply chain impact of new California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Laws

A New York Times article (Oct 21, 2011, A25) describes recent passage of greenhouse gas emissions laws in California that aim to impose stringent caps on emissions with the flexibility to trade with any other firm across the US for … Continue reading

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Apple iPhone model changes and planning by case makers

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (Oct 17,2011) describes pressures faced by iPhone case manufacturers, a $ 450 million market, when new iPhones models are announced by Apple.  Rely on leaks and rumors regarding the new phone and invest in tools in … Continue reading

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Airline sustainability goals and biofuel role

A New York Times article (Green Column, Oct 9, 2011) describes the airline industry goal to become “carbon neutral” by 2020 and cut emissions by 50 % by 2050, given that they account for 2 % of all human generated … Continue reading

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Blocking generics by adding a second score

A Wall Street Journal article (Oct 6, 2011) describes a decision by the firm Warner Chilcott, which sells tables for its drug Doryx, which was scheduled to go off patent, to add a second score on the tablet so it … Continue reading

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