Lean Supply Chains – OM in the News

Betting on ‘Made in America’

FutureStitch is reshoring its operations.

It is moving its sock production from China to the West Coast. A host of factors have contributed to the decision, and the founder and CEO believes that the benefits will outweigh the costs. Specifically, the ‘Made in America’ label is expected to be aligned with current political, economic, and societal trends that enhance the company’s image in the US. Its workforce includes formerly incarcerated women who appreciate the second chance and empower each other.

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By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-04-07T19:22:19+00:00April 9, 2023|Tags: carbon footprint, productivity, reshoring, strategy, supply chain management, sustainability|

Major League Baseball Drives Faster Cycle Times

Cycle time is an essential part of operations management.

Using an industrial analogy like repetitive automobile manufacturing, cycle time can be defined in two contexts: the time it takes to perform one task, such as installation of the hood, or the cumulative time it takes to perform all tasks as a product makes its way to completion, such as a completed automobile.

Companies often seek to improve cycle time to increase output (inventory), support more sales, reduce costs, and capture more market […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-03-30T19:34:21+00:00March 30, 2023|Tags: cycle time, lean, takt time, technology, training|

AI Is Revolutionizing Demand Forecasting

Demand forecasting is at the very core of operations management.

In simple terms, a forecast is a projection or prediction about some future point in time based on underlying assumptions. Demand forecasts—what we project customers will want—range from short-term (operational) to long-term (strategic) and help organizations plan for variables such as production capacity, labor, raw materials, packaging, and transportation needs.

The question isn’t whether demand planning is important or essential. The question, rather, is how to have more accurate forecasts so that […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-03-12T11:18:36+00:00March 12, 2023|Tags: artificial intelligence, demand management, forecasting, inventory, lean, strategic capacity planning, waste|

Inventory Levels Up for Under Armour

Under Armour’s factory partners are returning to pre-pandemic production efficiency. Unfortunately, the company’s apparel inventory levels have also begun to rise, threatening to drive down its profit margin.

Under Armour is planning to work through slow-moving inventory by offering discounts and pack-and-hold seasonless apparel for next year.

Video Spotlight:

Why Under Armour CEO says supply chain issues are causing ‘less discounting’ (Sep 1, 2021, Yahoo Finance)
Under Armour CEO: Inventory is a story, but […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2023-03-05T20:00:03+00:00March 5, 2023|Tags: demand management, excess inventory, inventory turnover, lean operations|