The Price and Costs of Capacity Decisions

Jan 30, 2014

The recent frozen traffic jam that shut down Atlanta and stranded hundreds of people for hours was frustrating to those caught in it. The complaints …

In Search of the Holy Grail

Dec 22, 2013

The rush to the south, away from labor unions, was followed by the rush to China for its cheap labor. And now that China labor …

Unintended Consequences

Dec 5, 2013

The ubiquitous cell phone has created an interesting collection of employer policies. In many businesses, the cell phone is a valid tool for doing one’s …

I Didn’t Think It Would Happen To Us

Nov 18, 2013

As twisters hit the Midwest and a typhoon hit the Philippines, innocent people and companies were hurt, losing material possessions and in some cases, lives. …

Outsourcing Your Customers’ Safety?

Sep 18, 2013

I’ve become accustomed to doing the order entry activities that suppliers used to do. I’ve even become fairly good at it, other than the occasional …

Oil, Oil Everywhere But Not A Drop To Share

Sep 13, 2013

In Ohio and Pennsylvania there is great excitement and economic investment in shale oil. The discoveries there have fed debate of ‘a solution to energy …

Common Sense Since Charge Commencement

Aug 6, 2013

Have you noticed how people boarding a plane now stow their carry-ons in the front most open overhead? This of course forces subsequent boarders with …

Fit For Duty? That’s Just Crazy.

Jul 8, 2013

The Cuyahoga County (OH) sheriff recently began requiring successful candidates for promotion pass a physical fitness test. The theory is simple: the job requires the …

Counteroffers Are Counterproductive

Jun 9, 2013

When I turned in my resignation to my last employer in 1990, they immediately offered an increase in salary and vacation if I would consider …

Lemings Die, But You Don’t Have To

Jun 3, 2013

Like lemmings, in the past 20 years many manufacturers outsourced their high-labor-content production to Asia, outsourced tooling to Asia, and focused on sourcing in “Low …