Managing Inventories – OM in the News

Black Powder Is a Single Source Issue for the US Military

The sole domestic source for black powder, a key ingredient in the production of many military explosives such as bullets, mortar shells, and artillery rounds, was shut down nearly two years ago after an explosion destroyed much of the plant in Minden, Louisiana.

The mill is set to reopen in Summer 2023 under new ownership.

This scenario highlights a problem that has become far too common. Supply chains related to national security can be brought to a halt by […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-06-02T04:44:29+00:00June 4, 2023|Tags: inventory management, location planning, maintenance, supply chain|

The Barcode Turns 50

The barcode’s origin story is somewhat in doubt. However, many people recognize April 3, 1973, as its birthday—making the barcode 50 years old.

On this day, the IBM version created by senior engineer George Laurer was approved as the industry standard. Shortly thereafter, the first barcoded product was scanned in Marsh’s supermarket near Troy, Ohio. The item was a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum for $1.39.

The use of the barcode has greatly expanded since 1973. Barcodes are everywhere. The Universal Product […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-05-07T05:36:34+00:00May 7, 2023|Tags: barcodes, information technology, processes, QR codes, RFID, technology|

Another Self-Operating Warehouse in California

JD.com is adding a third self-operating warehouse and distribution center in California.

Automated warehouses provide merchants with improved logistics infrastructure that allows JD.com to extend its order cut-off time by an hour. This will be the company’s fifth US warehouse; the Chinese e-commerce giant is working to achieve two-day delivery for the entire US.

Video Spotlight:

JD.com’s Automated Warehouse in California (Mar 1, 2023, JD.com, Inc.)

This post is based on the Supply Chain Dive article,

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2023-04-21T03:40:07+00:00April 21, 2023|Tags: distribution centers, logistics, warehouse|

The Chronic Pain of Drug Shortages

Despite repeated warnings that critical drugs have been and will remain in short supply, corrective action has been painfully elusive.

A confluence of factors contribute to the persistence of the problem. These factors have been identified multiple times over the years, but addressing them and their effects on patients’ health requires overall system changes that call for full congressional and business cooperation. The current blog does not cover the policy changes needed for improvement; they are beyond its scope. However, it […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-04-03T19:59:23+00:00April 5, 2023|Tags: bullwhip effect, competitivness, continuous replenishment, flexible-manufacturing, inventory management, JIT, lead time, logistics, outsourcing, productivity, respsonsive supply chain design, safety stock, shortage, sourcing, strategic capacity management, supply chain management|