Lenovo to optimize supply chain after Motorola purchase
In some interesting developments on the smartphone front, Google announced last week that it had sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo. The monolithic computer manufacturer has made forays into the smartphone market, but had been limited in recognition and success to its native China. With its latest acquisition of the Motorola brand however, it hopes to become a contender to rival both Samsung and Apple.
Key to success will be a streamlined and optimized supply chain, which as the South Morning China Post notes, include some crucial adaptations, and in particular being able to merge both Lenovo’s pre-existing production processes with Motorola’s.
Jack Narcotta, an analyst at Technology Business Research, expects Lenovo to make use of both its recently completed advanced manufacturing compound in Wuhan, Hubei province, to manufacture smartphones as well as use its contract manufacturers in China and the US. The 200,000-square-meter site has research, development and production facilities.
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Poor quality control in China
Aston Martin has become the latest big brand to experience supply chain trouble with parts of its supply chain operations based in China.
The luxury car company has had to recall over 5,000 cars manufactured from 2007 to the present day as alarming reports emerged of throttle pedal arms snapping during the installation process.  Although assembled in Swindon, England, the materials used for the arms are sourced from a company based in Hong Kong who in turn has their own supplier’s suppliers. Further investigation unveiled that the plastic used to make the arms was in fact counterfeit, and falsely labeled as DuPont PA6, the required material.
In a letter to the American government, the British car maker made it clear it will be relocating pedal arm manufacturing in 2014 to the UK, as a result of the questionable level of quality control that appears to have been practiced from its suppliers and sub-contractors.
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The rise of Plastiroll
Kesko Food is a Finnish grocery trader. It was also the first company in Europe to implement Plastiroll, a 100% biodegradable, clear food packaging film.
Using biodegradable packaging is an important and convenient innovation that could help with vastly reducing the amount of environmental waste food packaging is responsible for.
Disposing of Plastiroll packaging is as simple as putting it in a compost heap, as it contains no genetically modified organisms, and is completely renewable.
Currently Kesko Food uses the biodegradable packing for onion bunches, Chinese cabbage and leak, but has announced that it is considering expanding its use for other products.
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