by David Bovet | Apr 13, 2020 | Briefs, Supply Chain Management
Irrational consumers or unresponsive supply chains? Consumer behavior is not necessarily irrational. Applying business inventory management techniques to toilet paper purchasing at the household level highlights three rational considerations: Higher home demand due to...
by David Bovet | Apr 7, 2020 | Briefs, Investor Advisory
Ports North American ports continue to deal with the challenges of major supply and demand disruptions. The initial supply shortages and blanked sailings caused by the virus in Asia are now visible in published North American port volumes. Going forward, we expect the...
by Dave Frentzel | Apr 6, 2020 | Briefs, Consumer & Retail, Industrial & Distribution, Life Sciences, Operations
For many companies, the current pandemic is driving an unprecedented urgency to get new logistics providers in place or to add services to the ones already working with your company. For sure, such urgency puts pressure on the provider selection process to be fast....
by Dave Frentzel | Apr 2, 2020 | Briefs, Operations, Strategy
Today’s scope and depth of disruption to companies – especially small- and mid-sized firms – is virtually unprecedented. In this time of the pandemic, most companies will face severe challenges. Operating budgets will come under pressure, particularly when it becomes...
by David Bovet | Mar 25, 2020 | Briefs, Operations, Supply Chain Management
Dramatic images on TV and our own personal experience at the grocery raise the very real question: Will food, other consumer goods and medical necessities be available when and where we need them? The coronavirus has put a stark spotlight on the nation’s producers and...
by Dave Frentzel | Mar 23, 2020 | Briefs, Operations, Strategy
As I write this, we are beginning week two of Massachusetts’ version of the COVID-19 “shelter in place” emergency order. For our clients in non-life sustaining businesses, this Brief condenses what we have been advising, particularly for those running small-to-medium...