Month: April 2021

More supply chain trends and trivia questions

More supply chain trends and trivia questions

MOST FIRMS WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS THEY MAINTAIN, AND THE REDUCTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS DRAMATIC AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 8 TO 10 YEARS. TRUE OR FALSE. False.  Yes, the companies that recruit from the supply chain programs have long been on an aggressive outsourcing strategy.  Over the last 30 years, they keep outsourcing more and more of their material needs to a...
U.S. Manufactures 20% of World’s Output (we are only 4% of global population)

U.S. Manufactures 20% of World’s Output (we are only 4% of global population)

Please read below.  Basically, the dollar value output of U.S. manufactured goods is at an all-time high.  The problem is that American manufacturing keeps employing fewer and fewer people. That is because American manufacturing is the most productive in the world (measured by dollar value of output generated per worker per hour).   Much of those productivity gains come from what you are majoring in, supply chain management.  While the jobs...
This could change the world forever (and it is from WMU, not MIT, so stop wearing MIT shirts on campus)

This could change the world forever (and it is from WMU, not MIT, so stop wearing MIT shirts on campus)

We will talk about potential "disruptive" technologies in class such as 3D printing, the hydrogen powered fuel cell, the Internet of Things, the Cloud, RFID/Smart tags rather than bar code labeling, electronic reverse auctioning, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, etc.  The less glamorous disruption might come from WMU (see below).  Will your employer even know about this technology?  If not, could you be...
Do you know how to use Power BI or Tableau? Do not be a victim of technology.

Do you know how to use Power BI or Tableau? Do not be a victim of technology.

Visualization is big.   Kellogg's is the largest user of Tableau in Michigan and Tableau is owned by Salesforce.  Salesforce is huge and is worth $220B.  PowerBI  is owned by Microsoft which is even huger than Salesforce and MSFT is worth almost $2,000,000,000,000 - that is $2 Trillion.  PowerBI (MSFT) is playing catch-up but making significant strides.  Tableau is the real deal.  But so is Power BI.  Students ask me which...
One of our ISM alumni put this video together on supply chain risk management for you

One of our ISM alumni put this video together on supply chain risk management for you

One of our ISM alumni put this video together on supply chain risk management for you.  Supply Chain Risk Management has become a huge area within SCM, especially at the automotive OEMs in Metro Detroit.  Feel free to reach out to Lisa and say thank you for doing this for you.  Her non business and business email is below.  It would be very cool if you sent her a thank...
Drugs & if you have a criminal record or plan on having one…

Drugs & if you have a criminal record or plan on having one…

Click here to see what comes up in a background check https://www.simecurkovic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CriminalRecordBackgroundCheckAddendum.pdf A company can still hire you if you have a criminal record, it is their choice.  Similarly, they can still hire you if you fail a drug test (most will not however).  If they ask if you have a criminal record, then you have to be honest with them.  If you lie, then they will find out and...
Perhaps delay graduation for work experience? Being job ready in the covid market and beyond.

Perhaps delay graduation for work experience? Being job ready in the covid market and beyond.

Most good paying jobs are highly specialized (e.g., purchasing, operations, and logistics). Your degrees are highly specialized but you also have to get good practical work experience related to what you are majoring in. Quite simply, students without work experience in their major do not get good jobs in their major. That means you have to make getting an internship one of your top priorities while in school. You have...
Do you know what your brand is? How about a personal SWOT analysis?

Do you know what your brand is? How about a personal SWOT analysis?

Become the Nike swoosh of your life! Most students put little effort into developing and promoting their brand. Here is a workbook to help build your brand, just click I put the below video together for a group of college students in the Balkans.  You can begin at the "4:15" mark to avoid the details about the charitable organization. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIGQnFk5w4g Here is a website that is similar to MBTI and...
SCM Trends and Trivia

SCM Trends and Trivia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZisC97bsNZY&t=168s A common practice in industry is for large manufacturing firms to buy and take ownership of the tooling that a supplier uses to make high volume parts.True or False. True.  There are a few reasons for this practice.  One, the tooling and equipment associated with making high volume parts is too expensive for many suppliers.  For example, the mold used to make a plastic part on the interior of...
Sustainability from the perspective of a Supply Chain professor (me)

Sustainability from the perspective of a Supply Chain professor (me)

Note:  It might come across in the video lecture that I am not pro-sustainability.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Half my research has promoted sustainability.  In the video, I simply try to stay objective and sometimes I have to play the antagonist to do so.  Millennials and Generation Z will be the first generations willing to pay more for sustainable products, (72 percent already do or say they...