In this paper, I assess the current state of the opioid epidemic in the United States which has caused countless deaths since the 1990s. I analyze the current state of the pharmaceutical industry and how it is involved in perpetuating the opioid crisis in the United States through its supply chain. I identify four main issues which lead to the continuation of the opioid crisis: the shift to a continuous manufacturing model, the consolidation of pharmacy benefit managers, pharmaceutical companies' influence on medical professionals prescribing opioids to patients and the creation of an informal supply chain in which patients distribute their unused prescription pills. To address these issues and alleviate the problem of the opioid crisis caused by supply chains I propose that pharmacy benefit managers implement blockchain technology to increase supply chain visibility, increasing buyer power in the market and developing a reverse logistics system within the supply chain to dispose of unused prescriptions.

As sustainability has become more prevalent it has become clear that companies have a pressing need to incorporate sustainability into their business. The purpose of this study is to analyze the ways that integrating sustainability can actually provide a financial benefit for a company. Through interviews and extensive research, we will target sustainability initiatives that work for both small and large businesses. This is another key part of our research; addressing the discrepancy in how businesses of different sizes are able to use sustainability, and then finding sustainability initiatives that recognize this discrepancy and are effective for businesses of all sizes.
As sustainability has become more prevalent it has become clear that companies have a pressing need to incorporate sustainability into their business. The purpose of this study is to analyze the ways that integrating sustainability can actually provide a financial benefit for a company. Through interviews and extensive research, we will target sustainability initiatives that work for both small and large businesses. This is another key part of our research; addressing the discrepancy in how businesses of different sizes are able to use sustainability, and then finding sustainability initiatives that recognize this discrepancy and are effective for businesses of all sizes.
Through the interviews of three large corporations (Amazon, Dell, and Lowes), and four small businesses (Exel Shirts, Goode Deals, Desert Dream Ice Cream, and FitzGerald and Sons Contracting) we were able to discover several very effective sustainability initiatives, such as ocean plastics recycling at Dell or packaging advertisements at Amazon. This thesis then discussed what characteristics of these plans are easiest to transfer and implement for businesses of all sizes, classifying the “ideal” sustainability initiative. Possible revenue earners like reusing scrap, and the intangible benefits like saved labor of telecommuting as some of the most significant financial value that sustainability can provide for companies of all sizes.

In 1991 after the National Science Foundation lifted the ban on commercial usage of the internet, e-commerce through online retailers has slowly been growing in sales along with e-commerce returns. As e-commerce returns increase alongside e-commerce sales, this thesis will explore what problems online retailers experience from e-commerce returns and what are some potential solutions. Building on existing work conducted by other researchers on the topic of e-commerce returns, additional interviews were conducted with Nordstrom and Big Lots to compare those findings with external research. From interviews and additional research, it is concluded that the biggest problems online retailers experience returns due to size, fit, color, and damages. Thus, it is recommended for online retailers to implement tools such as Fit Finder or incorporate more diverse models along with more detailed descriptions to alleviate returns due to sizing or fit. Furthermore, invest in providing higher quality images to better depict product coloring. As for damages, it is recommended to establish 2nd tier resale channels or a chargeback program onto 3rd party carriers to recuperate losses. Overall, further investment into reverse logistics is pertinent for an online retailer’s e-commerce strategy and operations to remain competitive against others while controlling costs.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with a staggering 1.4 billion cups of coffee poured a day (Coffee Consumption around the World). One-point six percent of total US GDP is made up by coffee operations and fuels 1.6 million jobs in the United States (The Global Coffee Industry). However, with an increasingly complex political and economic world, along with the threat of climate change, the world’s coffee supply is at risk of total collapse. There are two primary varieties of coffee consumed in the world, Arabica and Robusta coffee. Most coffee producing countries run along the equator and are generally classified as developing economies. The global south is relied upon for coffee production. “Across Mexico and Central America, over 4 million people depend directly on coffee production for their livelihoods” (An Integrated Framework). Coffee production helps boost these economies and support families financially, with many workers having to support dependent individuals.

The purpose of this honors thesis project is to gather information and expand upon current research within the field of Supply Chain Management. The first step taken to effectively learn about research within the field was the attendance of supply chain seminars geared toward PhD level students. After attending these research seminars, summaries and personal reflections have been created to synthesize the material and highlight the topics discussed. After an analysis of each of the research seminars, an in-depth literature review for the specific topic of “Production Process Moves” is given. This literature review will expand upon the areas of research from this seminar, as well as explore various topics with a focus on knowledge transfer that could have been incorporated into these studies.

Through the lens of the physical and non-physical flows within the supply chain, this paper will analyze the societal implications of the transition to centralized factory operations following the Industrial revolution of the 18th century. The industrialized means of mass places heavy value on centralized operations as a means of establishing competitive advantages in economies of scale and standardized quality. With the emergence of new technologies such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and blockchain, the direct labor required to produce goods and services greatly diminishes. The current trend towards the automation of physical production processes highlights a fundamental shift towards a service-based economy. This will serve as the foundation and introduction to assess the current production landscape and propose a theoretical model for labor and management “Contractor.io” to serve as a task management protocol for the contracting of labor as society transitions into an increasingly digital serviced based economy.