Intro to Inventory Mgmt – OM in the News

Can Starbucks Stave Off PSL Shortages?

A previous OM in the News post discussed how the food supply chain is experiencing shortages. Starbucks has joined the list of companies experiencing supply chain issues.

Shortages have resulted from spikes in demand as customers move towards a new normal, coupled with lingering COVID-19 pandemic issues impacting transportation and production. Almost every industry is affected. As reported in a previous post, computer chips used in almost every electronic product are in short supply. Other shortages […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2021-10-25T03:41:01+00:00October 24, 2021|Tags: covid-19, inventory management, limited time offering, shortages, supply chain management|

Managing Demand for Hand Sanitizer and Masks

To unclog retail shelves and warehouses of excess hand sanitizer as the pandemic wanes, retailers such as Target, B&R Stores, and Staples are discounting the anti-germ products or offloading them to auction sites.

However, Gojo Industries is expecting the increased awareness of hygiene practices to last. They added three manufacturing facilities in the past year to continue producing Purell hand sanitizer.

Video Spotlight:

A Look Inside Purell’s Factory After COVID Increased Demand (May 20, 2021, NBC News)

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2021-10-20T05:47:44+00:00October 19, 2021|Tags: demand forecasts, excess inventory, inventory, medical supply chain, sustainability|

Price Hikes on Toilet Paper and More

Just when it seemed like the toilet paper crisis was finally under control, Kimberly Clark is making headlines again.

The second largest toilet paper manufacturer in the U.S. is planning hikes to its list prices beginning in June 2021. This time, the primary disruptor is commodity prices rather than the pandemic hoarding that stripped shelves bare this time last year.

Video Spotlight:

Toilet Paper Prices Set To Rise, Again (Apr 1, 2021, Today)

This post is based on […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2021-05-26T18:10:46+00:00May 27, 2021|Tags: aggregate planning, external environment, forecasting, inventory management, logistics, MRP, purchasing, sales and operations planning, supply chain|

The Chicken Sandwich Wars Continue

The Great Chicken Sandwich War began on August 12, 2019. Popeyes introduced its new chicken sandwich. Chick-fil-A tweeted about its chicken sandwich being the original. Popeyes responded with, “Y’all good?”

This was the beginning of a social media war that brought a great deal of attention to Popeyes’ chicken sandwich. Other restaurants joined in the social media war, including Wendy’s and Shake Shack.

The attention, along with outstanding initial reviews of the sandwich, led to long lines and shortages of chicken sandwiches […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2021-04-24T23:06:43+00:00April 26, 2021|Tags: efficiency, forecasting, inventory management, process design, product development, supply chain management, waiting lines|