Manufacturing - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

[VIDEO] How One Farm Makes Most of MLB’s Dirt

September 8, 2023

When Major League Baseball groundskeepers prepare an infield before a game, not just any dirt will do. 26 out of 30 teams in the league depend on professional grade stuff made by Duraedge Products in Pennsylvania, which mines and processes Pittsburgh red bed claystone to create “infield mix.” This video follows the entire process from mining to mixing, showing how every year Duraedge transforms 30,000 tons of clay into a vital product for baseball teams around the country.

Questions:

Why Continue reading →

Product Development, Management, Transportation, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Product Distribution, Manufacturing, Facility Location

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Videos

[VIDEO] Why Car Companies Still Use Expensive Clay Models

August 25, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For nearly a century, car companies all over the world have built life-size clay models of vehicles in order to make all sorts of design decisions. But don’t let the humble materials fool you: luxury brands like Bentley often spend more than $650,000 to make just one model. This video looks at the benefits of building these pricey prototypes during the development process and why virtual reality tools won’t entirely replace clay anytime soon.

Questions:

What are the advantages Continue reading →

Transportation, Manufacturing, Automation, Virtual reality, Product Development, Marketing, Cars, Global

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

Domestic Production Sets Bath & Body Works Apart

July 26, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Making a $7.95 bottle of soap for Bath & Body Works (BBW) once took three months to accomplish. Parts traveled more than 13,000 miles across multiple countries to end up at the company’s Ohio distribution center, a difficult journey that the beauty brand sought to change in 2008. Years of working with local officials and skeptical suppliers resulted in BBW’s “beauty park” located outside of Columbus, an industrial campus that handles nearly every aspect of production. Featuring 10 manufacturers with Continue reading →

Management, Operations Management, Product Development, Global, Supply chains, Manufacturing, Product Distribution, Supply & Demand

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

[VIDEO] How Tabasco Fills Up To 700,000 Bottles A Day

July 14, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Since 1868, Tabasco has produced hot sauce by aging a spicy mash of peppers, vinegar, and salt in oak barrels for five years. The video below shows how the company makes this iconic condiment through a combination of time-tested methods and modern assembly line efficiency.

Questions:

Why does Tabasco still depend on using old bourbon barrels to create its hot sauce?
Do you think Tabasco should relocate its Avery Island facilities in favor of a place that is more Continue reading →

Product Distribution, Global, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Food & Drink, Tabasco, Product Development, Operations Management

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Videos

[VIDEO] How Delta Makes 3,200 Meals Per Day

April 5, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In the last few months, we’ve posted videos focusing on small businesses that produce mouthwatering foods by hand, from tasty chocolates to delicious hand-rolled bagels. Today’s video looks at another sort of commercial kitchen, however, a facility owned by Delta Airlines that pumps out more than 3,000 meals daily by relying on robotic machines.

Questions:

Why does Delta rely on automated cooking machines at its Atlanta facility?
Do you think small businesses producing food by hand could benefit Continue reading →

Global, Manufacturing, Automation, Food & Drink, Airlines, Operations Management

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

[VIDEO] How The Oldest Chocolate House In New York Manages to Thrive

March 30, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

The video below takes a long look at Li-Lac Chocolate, the oldest chocolate house in New York that thrives by doing things the old fashioned way. Along with observing their unique production processes, this video examines how Li-Lac made it through the pandemic to continue its century-long tradition.

What value do the antique chocolate molds owned by Li-Lac Chocolates give to the company?
How did the pandemic affect business at Li-Lac Chocolate?

Marketing, Product Development, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Product Distribution, Manufacturing, Food & Drink, Supply & Demand, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Videos

[VIDEO] Why is Everything Getting So Expensive?

March 10, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Prices on everyday products like groceries and diapers have increased dramatically in the last couple of years, with inflation often being identified as the culprit. This video takes a close look at the potential causes of the post-pandemic trend of rising inflation, examining why supply chain issues and plain old markups could be responsible for ever-increasing prices.

Questions:

What are the potential causes of inflation outlined in this video? Which factor do you think is the most likely cause Continue reading →

[VIDEO] The Artificial Flower Factory that Serves Celebrities

January 20, 2023

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

This video dives deep into the story of M&S Schmalberg, the last artificial flower factory in the U.S. that crafts beautiful blossoms by hand. Located in the heart of Manhattan, this family-owned business serves everyone from top fashion designers and celebrities to individual clients with personal projects in mind. The video below delves into the history of M&S Schmalberg and its artisanal production methods while also examining the rise and fall of the American artificial flower industry over the span Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How Junior’s Bakes Millions of Cheesecakes

November 11, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

The New York bakery Junior’s has been selling enormous cheesecakes to customers since 1950, but 2022 has probably been the toughest year for the company since its founding. Along with examining how a cream cheese shortage and skyrocketing ingredient prices have threatened Junior’s bottom line, this video also examines the company’s history and the intricate production processes for its many baked goods.

Questions:

How have rising ingredient costs affected Junior’s business?
What role does automation play at Junior’s Continue reading →

Food & Drink, Supply & Demand, Marketing, Operations Management, Pricing, Entrepreneurship, Manufacturing, Product Distribution

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Videos

[VIDEO] Why Oboes Are So Expensive

October 7, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

This fascinating video takes a close look at the painstaking process for making oboes, a woodwind that stands out as one of the most expensive instruments in any orchestra. The artisans depicted below must contend with costly and dwindling supplies as well as limited demand from a small and selective market, factors that make this specialty business even more complicated.

Questions:

Why are the material costs for oboes so high compared to other instruments like flutes and clarinets?
How does Continue reading →

Global, Product Distribution, Manufacturing, United Kingdom, Supply & Demand, Artisanal production, Labor costs, Product Development, Entertainment, Music

Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Videos