Process Analysis – OM in the News

Unpacking the Process of Making Cardboard

Cardboard manufacturing is big business, and it keeps growing.

Cardboard has been used to package items for decades, but with the explosive growth of online shopping during the pandemic, it has become a staple in every household. Manufacturers are betting on sustained growth and are investing in huge, vertically integrated operations from pine harvesting to box making. Cardboard is more than 90% recyclable and has a competitive advantage over plastic in an environmentally conscious world.

Video Spotlight: Tree […]

By CMKaruppan|2022-12-11T00:24:01+00:00December 13, 2022|Tags: automation, packaging, process selection, sustainability|

Holiday Shipping Capacity Is Ahead of Demand

Shipping companies including the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, and United Parcel Service will have enough capacity to achieve on-time deliveries this holiday season.

Consumers were enticed to shop early to take advantage of early holiday sales, shop more in stores, and moderate spending to counter inflation. As a result, shipping volume was reduced, and shipments were spread over a longer period.

Nevertheless, shipping companies are maintaining a buffer of excess capacity of 10 million to 20 million parcels each day to meet […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2022-12-12T08:57:47+00:00December 12, 2022|Tags: capacity strategies, chase demand strategy, scheduling, seasonality, work force scheduling|

Arrival’s Van Microfactory Moving to North Carolina

Arrival, an electric vehicle startup with headquarters in the US and UK, has decided to move all of its Van production to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Instead of investing in mega production facilities, Arrival uses a microfactory model that installs assembly cells in existing facilities to build its all-electric vans. Arrival cited federal tax credit incentives, large market size, and better margins as factors in its decision to focus on the US market.

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