respsonsive supply chain design

Do Manufacturing Workers Benefit from Automation?

Advanced manufacturing technologies promise better jobs. Is it time to rejoice?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us, and it will transform work as we know it. This article delves into the benefits that automation could bring to deskless workers: safer jobs, higher pay, more opportunities for advancement, and so on. It is undeniable that automated technologies and artificial intelligence have the potential to enrich manufacturing jobs. However, their implementation will determine how workers are actually impacted.

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-05-12T03:13:01+00:00May 12, 2023|Tags: automation, carbon footprint, flexible-manufacturing, job design, productivity, respsonsive supply chain design, robots, sustainability, work force scheduling|

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|

Prefab Is Fab

Prefabricated building modules are trending.

Supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages can wreak havoc on construction projects as their compounded effects lengthen lead times and increase costs. Fortunately, these challenges can make businesses more creative and resourceful. Modular construction with prefabricated units combines the benefits of standardization and flexibility to speed up construction and lower costs. It thus facilitates the successful execution of large projects in an era of uncertainty and inflation.

Video Spotlight: Bathroom […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-05-09T20:48:41+00:00May 10, 2022|Tags: focused factory, lead time, process management, productivity, project management, respsonsive supply chain design, shortage, standardization, work force scheduling|

Inside Your Running Shoe

Could top quality products be within everyone’s reach?

Think how nice it would be if all the little defects inside your running shoes could be identified and eliminated before you buy them. No more rubbing, burning, itching, aching. This attention to design and quality control may soon become the norm even for ordinary consumer products. Lumafield has designed a CT scanner that enables engineers to see inside their products and identify problems and opportunities for improvement. Their product may not be […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-05-03T20:52:52+00:00May 6, 2022|Tags: competitivness, product design, product quality, productivity, quality assurance, respsonsive supply chain design, value analysis|