Tag Archives: manufacturing

Reducing automobile weight and mpg increase

Posted on September 15, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 14, 2011) describes efforts by auto manufacturers to decrease the weight of their cars -Land Rover plans to cut 1100 lbs in 10 years, Audi by 175 lbs in 1 year, Toyota by 35 … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged automobiles, Global, manufacturing, Supply Chain, weight | 2 Comments

Two Tier pay in the US auto industry

Posted on September 14, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 13, 2011) describes the practice of hiring new workers at $ 14 per hour while paying older workers twice that amount. These new employees permit manufacturing at price points comparable with global competition and … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged automobiles, competition, Cost, Global, manufacturing, Supply Chain, Trends | Leave a comment

Enforcing other country’s laws in the US

Posted on September 13, 2011 by aviyer2010

Another report on Gibson guitars in the Economist (Sept 3, 2011) describes the rosewood related production shutdown at Gibson guitars that we discussed earlier. But it claims that US manufacturers have to abide by every plant and wildlife regulation set … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged Design, disruption, Global, manufacturing, regulation, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Manufacturing Productivity and Small Business Survival

Posted on September 8, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 7, 2011) describes the labor productivity increase for a small manufacturer with labor costs holding at $ 337 per hour from 2005 to 2010 but the number of employees dropping from 20 to 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Capability, Capacity, competition, Cost, Efficiency, Global, manufacturing | Leave a comment

Changing the mix of China’s automobile production

Posted on September 4, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (Sept 4, 2011) describes a shift in emphasis in China from increasing manufacturing volume to higher mileage cars. Car sales increased by 5 % in 2011 compared to a 33 % increase in 2010. Officials … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged automobiles, China, Global, manufacturing, regulation, Supply Chain, Sustainable | Leave a comment

The logic of producing more HP Touchpads at a loss

Posted on September 3, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN Money (August 31, 2011) describes a possible reason HP would produce Touchpads and sell them at a loss (for $ 99, from a list price of $ 499) even though the division is being shut down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, Global Contexts, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Global, HP Touchpads, Loyal Customers, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Importing Indian rosewood to Gibson guitar plants, and customs office reaction

Posted on September 2, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (August 31, 2011) describes a raid on factories owned by the Gibson Guitar Corporation that disrupted the company’s supply chain. The focus is on rosewood and ebony fingerboards imported from India. While Indian laws prevent … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged Global, India, manufacturing, regulation, 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

Should the US Government assist battery manufacturers ?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by aviyer2010

A New York Times article (‘Does America need manufacturing”, August 24, 2011) described the supply chain impact of federal govt investment in battery manufacturing – the potential impact on scientific research, mining, building contractors, designers, engineers and shop floor employees. … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged battery, externality, Global, Infrastructure, manufacturing, Outsourcing, Supply Chain, Trends | Leave a comment

Steve Jobs, Apple’s product demand and Asian supplier network impact

Posted on August 27, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (August 26, 2011) describes the potential impact of Steve Jobs resignation as CEO of Apple on the company’s possible new products and demand. Given that many of Apple’s suppliers are in Asia and … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged competition, Consumers, Cost, Design, Global, manufacturing, Suppliers, Supply Chain | Leave a comment