Designed specifically for the smaller U.S.-based company; provides a brief overview of the various means by which such companies can enter foreign markets and the sources of information and assistance, principally on exporting, available to them.
MicroFridge, a five-year-old, $12 million company based in Sharon, Mass., develops and sells a unique, combination compact refrigerator and microwave oven. All of the manufacturing is done for it by Sanyo in various overseas locations. The founder and president believes the potential market for his product is an estimated 5 million homes in the "home away from home" market.
Commentary by an executive familiar with the industry on what went wrong at Prelude and what the difficulties are in creating economies of scale in the lobster fishing industry.
Some U.S. companies have moved manufacturing operations overseas to take advantage of lower wage rates, defending the practice as the only way to stay competitive. For many companies, offshore manufacturing is a poor option for gaining competitiveness. It involves extra transportation, communication, and paperwork; these costs can offset any potential savings. Also, when direct labor is a small percentage of total costs, as it is for much of manufacturing, labor savings are less critical to the bottom line. The only sure way to get more competitive is to strengthen the business as a whole.
Describes Kodak's long-awaited challenge to Polaroid in the field of instant photography. Provides technological and company background of both Polaroid and Eastman-Kodak and their respective product lines. Discusses Polaroid's claim that Kodak infringed on 10 Polaroid patents.
Covers the strategy and management practices of the world's largest manufacturer of welding equipment. Discusses the compensation system and company culture, and the leadership style of management.
Covers the historical development, current business, management philosophies, corporate strategy, and the nature and role of the corporate headquarters in managing the highly diversified operations. Based on Textron, Inc. (A).