labor shortage – OM in the News

French Bakeries Struggle with Rising Costs of Dough

Skyrocketing costs of inputs for French bakeries are threatening their very existence, according to some bakery owners.

While the baguette is recognized by UNESCO as an essential and important part of French culture, its affordability is being called into question.

Video Spotlight:

France’s bakers on strike: Expenses skyrocket as wheat, butter, sugar prices soar (Jan 23, 2023, FRANCE 24 English)

This post is based on the CNN article, Bakeries are central to the French […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2023-05-03T05:34:35+00:00May 3, 2023|Tags: costs, inflation, inventory management, labor shortage, productivity|

Updating Southwest’s Operations to Prevent Future Meltdowns

The box-office hit The Perfect Storm (2000), starring George Clooney, highlighted a combination of three separate weather fronts that collided which led to one of the fiercest storms in recorded history in the North Atlantic Ocean.

During this past holiday season, several factors collided which led to major flight disruptions for Southwest Airlines. An historic number of flight cancellations and thousands of angry customers have resulted in major financial implications and operational challenges.

Let’s look at some of those factors to understand why […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-01-15T22:41:09+00:00January 15, 2023|Tags: asset utilization, ERP, forecasting, labor shortage, modeling, supply chain disruption, technology, training|

Shortages from Candy Canes to Chocolate Hearts

First the Grinch struck with a candy cane shortage at Christmas, and now the shortages continue for Valentine’s Day.

High commodity prices, tightened sugar supplies, labor shortages, transportation delays, and supply chain snarls have prevented candy makers from meeting customers’ demand. Despite manufacturers’ efforts (e.g., sourcing from other suppliers, pulling inventory and production forward), the candy shortage continues, leaving retailers struggling to keep favorites in stock.

Video Spotlight:

21Country: Spangler Candy Co. produces the flavor of Christmas […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2022-02-12T00:21:49+00:00February 12, 2022|Tags: aggregate planning, forecasting, inventory, labor shortage, logistics, make-to-stock, order fulfillment, sales and operations planning, seasonality, shortages, transportation|

Dollar Store To Pass the Buck in 2022

The last of the true “dollar” stores, Dollar Tree announced in late 2021 that some of its stores will begin charging more than $1 for some items.

Other stores, like Dollar Tree-owned Family Dollar, as well as competitors like Dollar General, made the move to higher price points long ago. Boundary breaking prices of $1.25 or $1.50 at Dollar Tree will still be significantly lower than the $1 to $10 range seen at other similar value chains.

Video Spotlight:

By Lisa M. Spencer|2022-01-08T02:45:13+00:00January 13, 2022|Tags: core competency, external environment, inflation, labor shortage, logistics, purchasing, service design, strategy, supply chain management, transportation|