Tag Archives: Growth

A new report on Apple’s China Supply Chain and associated pollution

Posted on September 3, 2011 by aviyer2010

A recent report (http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-II.pdf, published August 31, 2011) questions whether decisions made by Apple’s suppliers continue to have a negative environmental impact. The report identifies suppliers who release hazardous chemicals into the river or environment, the speed of ramp up … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged China, Consumers, Coordination, Demand Surge, Dual Sourcing, Global, Growth, Quality, river transport, Supply Chain | 1 Comment

Advancing US Manufacturing Future

Posted on August 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

An Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (August 29, 2011) by Susan Hockfield, President of MIT, suggests the need for federal investments in advanced manufacturing, similar to past US govt investments to create innovation in electronics, computing, the Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged competition, Cost, Global, Growth, Infrastructure, manufacturing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

“Piccolo bello” fims in Italy and regulation

Posted on July 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (29 July 2011) describes the challenges faced by small Italian firms (“piccolo bello”) which form the backbone of the industry in Padua, Italy. Firms face the need to work with 10 to 20 different government … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, Global, Growth, Italy, manufacturing, Outsourcing, regulation, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

JIT workers and Sales Impact

Posted on July 27, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (July 27, 2011) describes the 2009 sales drop of 4.5 % and employment drop of 8.3 % and a ten year growth of 19 % while private sector jobs dropped 2 million. One concept described … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, Growth, labor, Supply Chain, Trends | Leave a comment

Is US Inshoring of manufacturing and services a trend ?

Posted on June 17, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/17/news/economy/made_in_usa/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2) asks if the examples of companies inshoring i.e., bringing outsourced activities back to the US, is a long term trend. The articles identifies GE’s appliance plan in Kentucky that will produce refrigerators and water … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, Global, Growth, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Toyota’s quality focus and slow response ?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by aviyer2010

A recent report, written by respected outsiders, but commissioned by Toyota, claims that the attributes of stability and predictability, that create quality products, may be to blame for the slow response to customer complaints regarding brake pads or sudden unintended … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Consumers, Growth, Quality, Supply Chain, Toyota | Leave a comment

Power cuts in China and manufacturing impact

Posted on May 19, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (18 May 2011) describes electricity rationing in Taizhou, China, which required some factories to halt production one day a week in March, two days a week in April and three days a week in May. … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged Capacity, China, Cost, Global, Growth, manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Opening a US plant to make candles

Posted on May 6, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (May 5, 2011) describes the travails of Chesapeake Bay Candle as they tried to open a plant in the US. Candles face a 108.3 % inport duty and thus only 20 % of their volume … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, Cost, Fast Fashion, Global, Growth, manufacturing, regulation, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Rethinking JIT under supply disruptions and erratic growth

Posted on April 29, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (April 29, 2011) describes companies like Terex and Al-jon Manufacturing and their increased inventories of raw material and finished goods given supply disruptions and increased sales growth. Whil Just-In-Time inventories enable supply to be maintained synchronized … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capability, Capacity, Cost, Global, Growth, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Retail paint price increases and titanium dioxide cost link

Posted on April 23, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (23 April 2011) describes a 16 % increase in retail price of paint. The cause is an increased demand for titanium dioxide, a paint ingredient that is also used in toothpaste, paper and … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Commodity, Cost, Global, Growth, Price increases, Supply Chain | Leave a comment