Supply Chain by the Numbers: Week of August 6, 2009
 

-August 6, 2009
   
 

This Week's Supply Chain by the Numbers - Starbucks Goes Lean, Baxter Reduces CO2, Falling Parcel Volumes, Iron Ore Prices

   
 

The Supply Chain and Logistics Numbers Worth Knowing This Week: Starbucks is Keen for Lean, Baxter Emissions a Picture of Health, Shippers Play Let's Make a Deal, Chinese Steel Industry Put on the Spot

   
 
 
 

10

The number of staff on Starbuck’s relatively new corporate “Lean” team that visits stores and trains managers and operators on how to improve costs and service through Lean principles. One store in Chicago saw customer satisfaction ratings move from 56% to 76% after applying Lean techniques.
 
 



 

18-20%

The estimated reduction in CO2 emissions from the private fleet of healthcare products provider Baxter International in 2009 over 2008 from such steps as improved routing software, better use of on-board computers, use of a few new diesel hybrid vehicles, and other moves. The data was provided as part of Baxter’s just released annual sustainability report.
 
 
6

The number of consecutive quarters that parcel volumes in the US have declined, leading to opportunities for shippers to negotiate better rates. UPS recently said volumes continued to fall in Q2, down 4.6% domestically and 5.5% internationally.

 
 
 
 
20%

The approximate increase in iron ore prices leading Chinese steel producers are absorbing on the spot market versus the contract prices that its competitors enjoy, as Chinese producers are still locked in negotiations with leading global miners.