Process Analysis – OM in the News

Faster Plane Turnaround Times Pay Off

Besides cramped seats, what do you hate the most about flying?

The answer is probably waiting. Flight delays, long waits on the runway before takeoff, and extensive taxiing after landing often result in missed connections and distress for passengers. The waits also cost airlines money. A lot of money. To control those substantial costs, airlines are trying to cut turnaround times at the airports. Some projects are still being piloted, but they seem promising. For once, it appears that airlines’ cost-cutting […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-12-05T06:29:14+00:00December 8, 2023|Tags: efficiency, process analysis, process improvement, value, waiting line, waiting time|

Direct-to-Consumer Caskets Disrupt Traditional Business Model

The old saying “there’s nothing certain in life except death and taxes” may still be true, but more options now exist regarding the cost of burying a loved one.

Traditionally in the United States, a family purchases a casket upon the death of their loved one, as part of the arrangements made with a funeral home. Funeral homes provide both tangible products (such as a casket) and intangible services (such as preparing the body for viewing and burial). The combined total […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-11-12T10:46:29+00:00November 12, 2023|Tags: direct-to-consumer, inventory, inventory management, online shopping, process selection, quality, supply chain disruption, total cost of ownership|

Short-Term Housing Rentals Lead to Housing Shortages

Housing availability has plummeted while housing costs have skyrocketed for residents of Florence, Italy, in the wake of popularity for shorter rentals via platforms like Airbnb.

The housing shortage leaves lower income Italians and students particularly hard pressed to find affordable housing. In the absence of action by the central government, the city of Florence has taken matters into its own hands, banning new short-term residential leases on sites like Airbnb. Other cities around the world have faced similar problems.

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By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-10-27T04:12:23+00:00October 27, 2023|Tags: aggregate planning, capacity planning, inventory management, shortage|

Tabasco: Maintaining Traditional Processes

McIlhenny’s Tabasco sauce still uses many of the production processes developed over 150 years ago.

The process starts with hand-picking peppers. Next, the peppers are sent for grinding and mixed with salt within one hour of being picked, then placed in oak whiskey barrels, covered with salt, and left to age for three years.

From the barrel, the mash is mixed with vinegar and then churned for three to four weeks. This is followed by a two-stage milling process that removes the […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-10-11T10:16:48+00:00October 11, 2023|Tags: assembly line, inspection, inventory management, perishable inventory management, process, quality, quality control|