Call centers are important for developing and maintaining healthy relationships with customers. At Dell, call centers are also at the core of the company's renowned direct model. For sales call centers in particular, the impact of proper operations is reflected not only in long-term...

As companies attempt to remain competitive throughout increasing market forces, many firms develop key operational strategies to differentiate themselves. One method that many companies such as Amazon, Dell, and Toyota, have established a competitive advantage through is supply chain management...

This thesis explores business opportunities in the "smart grid" environment for the Power Electronics Global Product Group (PE GPG) of ABB, Ltd. The goal of this thesis is three-fold: 1) Provide a detailed definition of the smart grid landscape. 2) Create a framework for decision makers in the...

Typically a company's second largest controllable expense, corporate travel affects many employees at Boeing. A challenge when implementing improvements in the travel and expense system, which is actually comprised of a system of systems, is the coordination of various solutions to ensure...

As a consumer packaged goods company, "Company X" manufactures products "make-to-stock"; therefore, having reliable demand forecasts is fundamental for successful planning and execution. Not isolated to "Company X" or to the CPG industry, current global economic conditions have forced companies...

There is an essential need in the retail industry, of integrating inventory planning and pricing strategies. In the fast-fashion world of retail, inventory is treated as a perishable item leading to short selling periods. It is a common practice for retailers to liquidate unsold merchandise via...

In biotechnology, much focus is put on the science behind proteins and cells; less attention has traditionally gone to the raw materials used to produce medicines. However, in the recent past, internal and external drivers have prompted a change in the way biotechnology companies manage raw...

Understanding the overall impact of a decision in a manufacturing system can be challenging given the complex production and financial structures in today's companies. While knowing the direct result of a local change may be easy, anticipating the real impact to the rest of the business can be...

In 2008 Intel released a low-power and low-cost microprocessor that opened up a new market for smaller mobile computers, commonly known as netbooks. During the subsequent two years, netbooks have grown to be a substantial component of the mobile computer industry, capturing a major share of...

For many biotech drugs, minimal competition has led to significant margins. Genentech's legacy product, however, faces intense competition from six other competitors. Competition necessitates contracting to ensure patient access to the product but this results in price erosion. An increase in...