Author Archives: just2bruce

Boxships set for 2014 scrapping record

Posted on May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

Why are box ships being scrapped?  I think it’s because the new ones are larger and much more efficient.  And with the rules on fuel use changing, and bunker rising, shipowners need the most efficient carriers they can get.  It seems according to the article that new building is still outpacing scrapped tonnage.

Boxships set for 2014 scrapping record | Shipping Tribune.

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Posted in Shipping

Amazon Versus the Delivery Giants

Posted on May 8, 2014 | Leave a comment

Can Amazon compete with UPS and FedEx?  Is Amazon trying to?  No one knows, but Yossi Sheffi’s post at the MIT Supply Chain blog makes some suggestions about what might happen.  Or not!

Amazon Versus the Delivery Giants: The Retail Saga Continues | Supply Chain @ MIT.

 

I don’t buy Yossi’s argument about 3-D printing, because I think it will be a long time before Kinko’s can make the wide variety of products I want to buy from online sources or stores.  And another issue is sheer competition.  If Amazon starts eating their lunch, UPS and FedEx are going to reduce the favored status they give Amazon now.   Yossi points out that the two big package carriers might not really value the amazon business too highly– it’s low margin.

I suspect the future is even stranger than what we can see from here.

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Posted in Strategy, Supply Chains

Only 5 Percent More Costly Than China

Posted on April 29, 2014 | 2 comments

And if we consider reliability for US customers, perhaps US manufacturing is now ahead.  It’s time to look at the implications for supply chains both domestic and international.

US Manufacturing Only 5 Percent More Costly Than China, Strengthens Case for Reshoring – Supply Chain 24/7.

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Posted in Production Operations, Supply Chains