Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.

The Broken Promises of the Patent System

The patent system is outdated.

In the US, a patent protects an inventor by preventing others to manufacture, sell, or use the invention for 20 years. In principle, this is a fair reward which spurs innovation and thus benefits us all. In reality, the system is flawed. It protects the first person that files for a patent, whether the invention works or not. Does the system really foster progress? Could AI exploit its flaws even further?

This post requires students to evaluate […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-09-17T02:16:12+00:00September 17, 2023|Tags: competitiveness, new product design, product life cycle|

In Search of the Perfect T-Shirt Made in the U.S.A.

According to one of Buck Mason’s founders, “there is nothing more essential to the American wardrobe than a white tee.”

The company was started with the objective of making a first-class t-shirt, a well-established product already manufactured by a myriad of competitors worldwide. The majority of the t-shirts are made in the U.S.A. with fabrics also made in the U.S.A. The founders are very involved in the production process and quality control which, they believe, enables them to […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-09-11T14:58:50+00:00September 13, 2023|Tags: insourcing, location, product quality, sourcing|

The First Watch Made in the U.S.A. since 1969

J.N. Shapiro’s Resurgence model boasts the “Made in the U.S.A.” label on its movement.

This means that all or almost all the components must be made in the United States. With a combination of science, art, and great attention to detail from design to production, the company hopes to revive the US watchmaking industry and bring back its glory days. As the orders keep coming, the company has expanded its capacity and is optimistic about future growth.

Video […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-09-06T23:08:35+00:00September 8, 2023|Tags: competitivness, insourcing, Kano model, lead time, process selection, product quality|

The USPS Wants to Deliver its Operations Strategy

The USPS continues its ambitious transformation.

Although the first two years of the ten-year transformation plan have produced mixed results, the Postmaster General wants to forge ahead with the pursuit of excellence in quality, cost, delivery, and flexibility. Because revenues from mail delivery continue to decline, the USPS is targeting shippers, a bold move for a late entrant in the package delivery business. This strategy requires a complete overhaul of the organization. Modernization and streamlining of services and […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-06-19T21:16:03+00:00June 21, 2023|Tags: automation, bottleneck, carbon footprint, competitivness, delivery, JIT, logistics, process management, productivity, service quality, strategy, supply chain management, sustainability|

About Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.

The Broken Promises of the Patent System

In Search of the Perfect T-Shirt Made in the U.S.A.

The First Watch Made in the U.S.A. since 1969

The USPS Wants to Deliver its Operations Strategy