Tag Archives: Suppliers

Will local supply solve the horsemeat contamination problem?

An article in the Financial Times (March 3,2013) describes a decision by Tesco, a UK retailer, to increase use of local sources, starting with chicken and working towards others. Similarly,Carrefour, a French retailer, claimed it would shift to French sources. … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Federal labeling standards for GMO foods ?

An article in the New York Times (January 31,2013) describes a move by food manufacturers and retailers like Wal-Mart to urge the FDA to propose labeling standards for food. Their reason, proposed state level labeling initiatives by 20 states. In … Continue reading

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

Apple’s supply chain transparency — what do we learn ?

A recent release of Apple’s supplier list, mapped on Google maps (http://www.chinafile.com/who-supplies-apple-it-s-not-just-china-interactive-map) provides specific locations of 74 component suppliers, of which 331 are in mainland China. A related supplier responsibility report (http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/reports.html) lists audits of suppliers and corrective action, along … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disaster driven product supply chains

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 18,2013) describes the cost of global disasters as $200 billion in 2012, while the earlier decade has an annual cost of $187 billion, caused by earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis etc. Given predictions that climate change will … Continue reading

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Manufacturer’s efforts to prevent use of their drugs for lethal injections

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (February 11,2013) describes efforts by European manufacturers to prevent use of their drugs for lethal injections in US prisons (to enforce the death penalty). Because capital punishment is illegal across Europe, European governments, such as Italy, … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who is responsible for preventing apparel factory fires in Bangladesh?

An article in the New York Times (December 29, 2012) describes the struggle between apparel retailers who outsource manufacturing to factories in Bangladesh, labor advocates and the government. While the $37 a month wage rate makes Bangladesh an attractive sourcing … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 55 Comments

Apple’s increased oversight of global supply chains and impact

An article in the New York Times (December 28,2012) describes Apple’s hiring of over 30 people in their social responsibility unit, alliances with employee advocacy groups like the Dutch Sustainability Trade Initiative and pressure on suppliers to comply with fair … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Higher fares, fewer flights, poorer service – what is the solution for passenger air transport ?

An article in the New York Times (November 21, 2012) describes a 14% drop in flights, a 10% increase in fares and longer lines faced by passengers this Thanksgiving. But the US domestic flights continue to be off limits go … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Service Operations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How suppliers sometimes overestimate their power in a supply chain

The New York Times (November 21,2012) describes the role, in 1861, of Southern US cotton growers who supplied cotton to British mills and imported household furniture, thus serving as a source of supply and demand. In April 1861, when the … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Argentina’s DJIA system for imports and supply chain impact

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (November 12, 2012) describes the DJIA system (initials of the Spanish law) that requires each importer to compensate with an equivalent amount of exports. Thus, a bicycle manufacturer who imports parts compensates with the export of … Continue reading

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment