sourcing – OM in the News

In Search of the Perfect T-Shirt Made in the U.S.A.

According to one of Buck Mason’s founders, “there is nothing more essential to the American wardrobe than a white tee.”

The company was started with the objective of making a first-class t-shirt, a well-established product already manufactured by a myriad of competitors worldwide. The majority of the t-shirts are made in the U.S.A. with fabrics also made in the U.S.A. The founders are very involved in the production process and quality control which, they believe, enables them to […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2023-09-11T14:58:50+00:00September 13, 2023|Tags: insourcing, location, product quality, sourcing|

Pickle Wars: Grillo’s Pickles Deals with Stolen Recipe

Grillo’s Pickles traces it recipe origins back over a hundred years to Travis Grillo’s grandfather. The family recipe calls for fresh food using simple, real ingredients.

In 2008, Travis began selling pickles from the trunk of his car—a 1984 Cutlass Supreme—in and around Connecticut and Massachusetts. That same year, he moved to a hand-made cart in Boston.

In 2009, Whole Foods discovered Grillo’s Pickles and added them to a local store. Grillo’s continued to expand, and by 2019, was the number 2 […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-08-13T07:03:57+00:00August 13, 2023|Tags: intellectual property, legal issues, outsourcing, risks, sourcing, subcontracting|

Ford’s Return to Vertical Integration

The push toward electric vehicles (EVs) is driving substantial change among traditional auto manufacturers.

In a recent interview, Ford CEO Jim Farley discussed how the company needs to change. EVs are more than just changing the drive train. As a result, Ford plans to vertically integrate.

Two areas receiving attention are software and components for EVs (specifically lithium batteries).

Currently, over 1400 Tier 1 suppliers provide the majority of Ford’s parts. The decision by Ford marks a return to the vertical integration strategy […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2023-07-13T06:04:05+00:00July 19, 2023|Tags: automation, outsourcing, sourcing, strategy, supply chain risk, sustainability, vertical integration|

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|