Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management, Twelfth Edition

Competing on Differentiation

Student Tip

For many organizations, the operations function provides the competitive advantage.

Safeskin Corporation is number one in latex exam gloves because it has differentiated itself and its products. It did so by producing gloves that were designed to prevent allergic reactions about which doctors were complaining. When other glove makers caught up, Safeskin developed hypoallergenic gloves. Then it added texture to its gloves. Then it developed a synthetic disposable glove for those allergic to latex—always staying ahead of the competition. Safeskin’s strategy is to develop a reputation for designing and producing ...