2020-10-22

How data will transform business (video)

Earlier, I wrote about warehouses. Today, I'll show you a TED Talk in which Philip Evans of BCG talks about data in supply chains.

Enjoy!

2015-11-18

What happens inside those massive warehouses? (video)

It's a long time since I posted here. Well, I've been busy. Who isn't these days? ;-) Among other things, I've been teaching and developing a course in Logistics. So, why not cover some topics on Supply Chain Management on this blog?

Are you shopping on the web? Do you know, how these purchases  are delivered at home? If not, watch this TED Talk of Mick Mountz of a company called Kiva which is now part of Amazon.

Enjoy!

2015-01-13

Week numbering

I hope all of you have had a wonderfull start in 2015! As a new year has begun, people ask about week numbers. As I wrote a year ago, there are several numberings. In the Netherlands - where I live - Week 1 is the first week with at least four days in the new year.

Good luck!

2014-12-24

Merry Christmas!

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

2014-12-17

Remote (book review)

Remote: Office Not Required
Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
37 Signals, 2013

After writing Getting Real and Rework (see my blogpost), Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson wrote Remote. This book is all about working (ta-da) remote. A topic they know all about as they founded Basecamp (formerly known as 37 Signals) while living and working in respectively the US and Danmark. Nowadays their employees work at different locations all around the globe.

First of all, the authors explain why one should work remotely. At the office people get distracted by their managers and meetings. The M&M's as they call it. Also commuting takes lots of valuable time. However there's a lof of resistance. Many people, especially managers, oppose to telecommuting as they fear to lose control.

In the following chapters Fried and Heinemeier Hansson explain how to organise the work, the cooperation and the social aspects. They emphasize the importance of human interaction. Therefore they synchronise at least some working hours. People should interact directly even if they use technology like (video) chat. Another important aspect is the provision of services to customers, software support in their case. At last, the book contains some useful resources and tools.

Remote is well written. It's not a novel but it contains tons of useful information about the modern workplace. It's interesting both for companies and employees. It's clearly structured and provides practical advice. Both for dealing with resistance and how to effectively organise the work. 

Do you work remote?

2014-11-19

Repair Café

Picture: Viva Rheden
A Café what? A Repair Café!

In the West we throw away lots of things. But why dump stuff that can be repaired easily? When goods get a second live, no new articles need to be created. Therefore, no raw materials are needed and less energy will be consumed. Very sustainable!

Repair Café's are local places or meetings where visitor's bring their broken items from home. This can be clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, etc. Together with some specialists, they repair these goods. Tools and (some) materials are in stock.

Visitor's may also drink a cup of coffee or even tea. There's a also reading table with books about DIY, maintenance and repairs.

The first Repair Café was organised in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam during 2009. A year later the international Repair Café Foundation was set up.

In the place where I live (nearby), the Repair Café is located alongside the Fab Lab about which I wrote earlier.

Good luck with your repairs!

Links Page updated

Today I updated my Links page. You're welcome to visit. Suggestions? Please drop me a line.

Enjoy!