Discovering the Value of People
Big news in the business world: Wal-Mart is famous for keeping costs down, including employee-related costs. In Joplin, the company is testing a new…
The Productivity Impact of Pesky Intermediates
By Kevin Meyer Seven years ago, yes seven, we started to wonder something about the seemingly rosy U.S. productivity numbers: At its most fundamenta…
A Brush with Innovation
By Kevin Meyer Stories of U.S.-based low margin commodity manufacturers successfully competing against companies from "low cost" countries…
Two Phones, One Genius
By Kevin Meyer I admit it, I love Apple products. For me they just work how I want them to, and I haven't seen the "blue screen of death&qu…
Of GE and Boeing
By Kevin Meyer While the world watches Boeing and the FAA trace a 787 Dreamliner battery problem from Seattle to Japan to Arizona to Italy then back…
A Sucker for a Slow Boat
By Kevin Meyer You're looking at the Marco Polo, owned by CMA CGM, which can hold more than 16,000 containers and reach a speed of 24 knots. Reg…
Sorry IndustryWeek - Apple is not a "Manufacturer" and not "Best"
By Kevin Meyer Before I begin, let me be clear. I love Apple products, and I own a plethora of them. The design is incredible, they work like I wan…
Apple's Average Traditional Supply Chain
By Kevin Meyer Something that annoys me to no end is when I read articles lauding Apple's supposedly amazingly fantastical supply chain. Really?…