shortage – OM in the News

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|

Time for a New Just-In-Time in the Auto Industry

Is Just-In-Time (JIT) going away?

Increased uncertainty and shortages have challenged the belief that JIT production systems are mistake-proof. The auto industry has widely and thoroughly embraced the systems for several decades. However, recent events have highlighted their limitations and the need to make them more resilient. This new imperative is consistent with the lean philosophy of continuous improvement.

Video Spotlight: Canada Trucker Protests Impacting U.S. Manufacturing (February 10, 2022, NBC News)

This post is based on the […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-03-09T21:36:01+00:00March 10, 2022|Tags: continuous replenishment, flexible-manufacturing, insourcing, inventory management, JIT, lead time, product design, safety stock, shortage|

NAND Memory Loss due to Contamination

As if the shortage of computer chips was not enough, flash memory is now also in short supply.

Contamination issues were reported in two factories making NAND flash memory for Western Digital and Xioxia. The contamination affected a large amount of the production output, further disrupting the supply chain of solid-state drives and NAND flash-based products. The costs of poor quality are substantial for both companies. Combined with a squeezed supply, these higher costs will likely push prices […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-03-02T22:04:59+00:00March 4, 2022|Tags: costs of quality, lead time, product quality, quality control, short term capacity, shortage, six sigma|

Tupperware Faces the Bullwhip Effect

The demand for companies like Tupperware has risen and fallen with the peaks of the pandemic.

Early in the pandemic, demand for plastic food storage containers increased, leaving shelves empty. As restrictions ease, fewer people eat in, leaving Tupperware with excess inventory. Besides taking downtime at selected factories, Tupperware is working to add more omnichannel options, to sell through its inventory backlog.

Shortages of raw material, increased raw material prices, and the unpredictable nature of pandemic-related restrictions, are factors which have made […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2022-01-25T17:04:55+00:00January 25, 2022|Tags: aggregate planning, backlog, bullwhip effect, chase demand strategy, forecasting, pandemic, shortage, supply chain management|