bullwhip effect – OM in the News

Tupperware’s Slow Descent into Oblivion

The Tupperware party may be over.

Tupperware may soon declare bankruptcy. Declining revenue, lower stock prices, and dwindling cash reserves do not bode well for the future of this iconic brand. The article and video describe how the company mostly relied on brand recognition and failed to recognize and adapt to a changing consumer and business environment. The company has now partnered with Amazon and Target to boost sales, but it may be too little, too late.

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-05-16T22:21:28+00:00May 17, 2023|Tags: bullwhip effect, competitivness, House of Quality, product design, product portfolio, product quality, service quality, strategy|

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|

Retail Inventories at Record Levels

In June 2022, OM in the News blogged about excess retail inventories. Inventories are still at record levels, and stores are scrambling to clear out merchandise ahead of the holiday season.

Quite a difference from a year ago, when OM in the News posted about retailers chartering ships to get products in time for the holidays.

Needing to reset merchandise for the 2022 holiday season, stores and warehouses are scrambling to make space, getting rid of […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2022-11-13T07:59:32+00:00November 16, 2022|Tags: bullwhip effect, excess inventory, forecasting, inventory management, inventory turnover, retail, supply chain|

Canceled Sailings: Last Resort Solution to Port Congestion

U.S. port congestion has not eased. It has simply shifted.

When the pandemic eased, manufacturers and retailers ordered more than needed to offset goods shortages and delivery uncertainty. As a result, ports became congested, which slowed the flow of goods in and out of the country. Today, bottlenecks shift from one port to the other, and labor disputes continue to exacerbate the situation. In this chaotic environment, canceling sailings seem to be a viable, albeit temporary, solution.

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-09-08T23:57:26+00:00September 13, 2022|Tags: bullwhip effect, logistics, queuing theory, shortage|