competitivness – Page 3 – OM in the News

High Tech Farming Yields a Lot More with a Lot Less in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is ahead of the game in farming.

Whereas the rest of the world is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change on food production, Dutch farmers have anticipated the problem and used science and ingenuity to align their outputs with consumers’ needs and wants. It has paid off: the country is the second largest exporter of food behind the United States! They are achieving world class excellence along the four competitive priorities of an operations strategy: quality, […]

By CMKaruppan|2022-12-12T01:34:56+00:00December 18, 2022|Tags: automation, carbon footprint, competitivness, product design, productivity, robots, strategy, sustainability|

Restaurants Flex Their Strategic Muscles to Fight Inflation

After COVID, inflation is now a major threat to restaurants’ financial viability.

How have they responded? By relying on their competitive strengths in operations. Big chains have used their size to control purchasing costs, whereas mom and pop restaurants have emphasized their authenticity and superior quality. Both are attempting to maintain customer loyalty and mitigate new threats with existing assets and resourcefulness.

Video Spotlight: Restaurants Grapple with Rising Costs (September 15, 2022, CNBC Television)

This post is based […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-12-07T21:49:13+00:00December 8, 2022|Tags: competitivness, economies of scale, mix flexibility, product quality, service quality, strategy, value analysis|

Railroad Employees Demand Changes in Operations

A major railroad strike has just been averted.

Employees complain that efficiency gains have resulted in demanding schedules and policies that penalize them for taking needed time off. Over two centuries, the railroad industry has had to reinvent itself multiple times to remain relevant and competitive. Changes in demand, supply, and competition have forced the industry to adjust to new realities and seek new paths to profitability. However, when these paths anger both customers and employees, it is time to consider […]

By CMKaruppan|2022-09-29T16:16:50+00:00October 12, 2022|Tags: competitivness, JIT, job design, lean operations, logistics, productivity, transportation|

Ford Redeploys Resources to Compete in the EV Market

The race for dominance in the EV market demands a new strategy and realignment of operations.

Ford has started on a new trajectory that involves controlling costs in its gas-powered vehicle division and injecting capital into its EV division to speed up expansion. The article describes the company’s reallocation of resources and its impact on the size and skills of the workforce.

Video Spotlight: Ford Motor Company Cutting 3,000 Jobs in Bid to Lower Costs (August 22, 2022, […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-09-06T22:05:07+00:00September 8, 2022|Tags: competitivness, focused factory, strategic capacity management, strategy, sustainability|