APICS Operations Management Now

Despite the job numbers, well-known publications and local newspapers alike are highlighting a manufacturing renaissance in the United States, and they are crediting technology, exports, and lean, among other things.

Costs are rising in the China due to increasing land prices, environmental and safety regulations, taxes, and labor expenses. These days, work in other locations, such as Vietnam, can cost up to 30 percent less.

In 1985, Michael Porter identified the primary activities of a value chain as inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. But some argue that the social era has rendered his model outdated—and that it should.

Business operations manager is in US News and World Report's list of the best jobs of 2012. Are you fully capitalizing on this proven need for operations management professionals?

The practice of supply chain sustainability—incorporating triple bottom line results into supply chain decisions—ultimately relies on supply chain practitioners, their organizations, and their supply chain partners to define and develop specific sustainable activities. Increasingly, well-defined standards, industry best practices, and research combine to advance supply chain sustainability around the world.

Many factors are responsible for the complexity of pharmaceutical supply chains, including the necessary role of government regulatory agencies; the wide distribution of suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and the fact that shortages, which often are caused by inadequate demand data, are a threat to public health.

Last month saw the biggest jobs gain in nine months in the United States, surpassing most analysts' forecasts. But productivity was down. Lower productivity means diminishing returns on wages and paying more for relatively less work.

According to the article, Boeing’s commercial airliner division head, Jim Albaugh, attributes the production issues Boeing is experiencing with the Dreamliner to the company contracting too much of the work. Boeing-owned factories are the final stage in a global supply chain that comprises more than 1,200 suppliers. Ensuring these suppliers see Boeing as their priority and getting them to ramp up their own production to meet Boeing’s demand in a still uncertain global economy have not been easy tasks for the aerospace company.

Asia, like the Americas, includes economies at various levels of development. As mature economies, South Korea and Japan are in a decidedly different place than China. Yet, due to their proximity, all three have contributed to making Asia the hub for the electronic industry and its supporting supply chains.

How many of you have felt the impact of a merger or acquisition? Integrating operations takes time. Many decisions need to be made, including those that impact the size and characteristics of the workforce.

Dual sourcing may be at odds with the overall business strategy if a priority is placed on reducing operational costs. It is incumbent on supply chain and operations management professionals to consider business priorities when developing risk mitigation tactics.

The first step for anyone in the industry is to learn all the laws and regulations for your supply chain. The next step is to evaluate how to make supply chain decisions while considering those standards.

Why do today's applicants lack the skills needed for today's jobs? Maybe it's that manufacturing and technical jobs require more and more specialized knowledge, or perhaps young people simply are not being encouraged to pursue these fields.

Swatch is a lean manufacturer and an important contributor to the lean supply chains of other Swiss watchmakers. Now, however, Swatch is putting its competitor-customers at risk by strategic design.

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership enables the government to invest in new technologies that are too costly for one company to develop. US President Barack Obama sees this initiative as an investment to win the future.

General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt has been unapologetic about GE’s global business and its jobs outside of the country. In fact, 60 percent of the company’s revenues come from its overseas businesses.

Europe is examining many options for dealing with its economic crisis. One option would be Greece defaulting and leaving the euro. Another option is for Germany to leave the euro and create a “new deutsche mark.”

Europe is examining many options for dealing with its economic crisis. One option would be Greece defaulting and leaving the euro. Another option is for Germany to leave the euro and create a “new deutsche mark.”

Examining design can help operations and supply chain management professionals rethink problems to find new and innovative solutions. The APICS body of knowledge contains similar tools that can enhance your management and problem solving.

How do you define supply chain sustainability?