Tag Archives: Low Margins

Shortage of TB drugs in India – a major producer of these drugs

Posted on June 11, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (June 6,2013) describes severe shortages of tuberculosis (TB) drugs in India, a country that is a major producer of TB drugs. TB kills a significant number of Indians and the government has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged drug, drug resistance, Global, India, Low Margins, manufacturing, shortages, Supply Chain, Survival, Tuberculosis | 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 competition, Consumers, Cost, exports, LNG, Low Margins, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Quicksourcing – using manufacturing in Tijuana to support design in the US

Posted on January 27, 2013 by aviyer2010

An opinion piece in the New York Times (January 26,2013) by Chris Anderson describes his company, 3D Robotics, that has a factory in San Diego and another in Juarez, 20 minutes away but across the border in Mexico. He describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged China, Cost, Global, Imports, Low Margins, manufacturing, Mexico, quicksourcing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Aravind Eye Hospital’s “maximize patients” to reduce costs strategy

Posted on January 19, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (January 17, 2013) describes the Aravind Eye Hospital in India, where patients pay whatever they can afford but are provided high quality care regardless of payment. While a patient with no money might … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations | Tagged Capacity, Consumers, Cost, Global, Low Margins, Service, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

The supply chain impact of shutting down the Federal Helium stockpile

Posted on September 2, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 11, 2012) describes a plan to shut down crude helium reserves currently held by the US government that satisfy 33% of the world demand. Given that US pricing focuses on covering debt … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged competition, Cost, helium, Inventory, Low Margins, manufacturing, regulation, Service | Leave a comment

Should oil field truckers have special rules even if they cause accidents ?

Posted on May 23, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in New York Times (May 14, 2012) described exemptions for oil field truckers that lets them take 24 hours off for 60 hours of work over seven consecutive days vs 34 hours for commercial truckers. This exemption was … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, fracking, Growth, Low Margins, oil truckers, regulation, Risk, Supply Chain, transport | Leave a comment

Momentum Accounting and supply chain impact

Posted on January 17, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Sept 27, 2011) described a “momentum accounting” decision by Diamond Foods to pay walnut growers about 25 cents a pound or more. The company described it as an attempt to maintain profitability of … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Cost, Legal, Low Margins, Margins, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

In Alabama -conflict between competitive agricultural products and strict immigration laws

Posted on November 16, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in bloombergbusinessweek (Nov 14,2011) describes the impact of stricter immigration laws in Alabama – the near disappearance of workers from Guatemala who worked in the tomato fields and fish processing plants. Given retail competition from importers who pay … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged agriculture, competition, Cost, Immigration, Low Margins | 1 Comment

Drug Shortages in the US – other issues

Posted on September 13, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Economist (Sept 3, 2011, pg 29) describes the increase in drug shortages from 58 drugs in 2004 to 211 in 2010 and 198 by Sept 2011. Most of these drugs are generics whose prices are set … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged disruption, drug shortages, Inventory, Low Margins, pricing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Smithsonian and “Made in America” requirements

Posted on April 22, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/smithsonians-made-in-america-mandate-not-easy-to-achieve/2011/04/13/AFFA2RqD_story.html?utm_source=eMail_OMNow_utm_medium=eMail_utm_campaign=OMNow__2011422) describes the impact of a “Made in America” requirement, spurred by Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep Nick Rahall, to require the Smithsonian to sell only products made in America in its gift shops. … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capacity, Global, Low Margins, manufacturing, Supply Chain | Leave a comment