Optimizing the Supply Chain

Introduction

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to travel throughout Vietnam. From Vung Tau to Sapa, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the people, culture, and cuisine of the country. I found Hanoi to be a vibrant, energetic, and welcoming city that is a world apart from anything I’d previously experienced. As a coleader of Portland State University’s Global Supply Chain Study Abroad program, I traveled to 11 sites, from a purely manual factory to the most state-of-the-art, world-class manufacturing operation I had ever seen.

I’ve worked in many developing countries over the years, and Vietnam reminds me of many of them. The workforce is very solid and trainable, but there are few local junior or middle management personnel. From my observations, ...