Videos
Creating Fairphones
Fairphone launched its first crowd-funded, ethically-sourced, and environmentally conscious smart phone in 2013. Built with many conflict-free materials in factories concerned about worker welfare, and designed for recyclability, the Fairphone sold more than 100,000 units worldwide. The Fairphone 2, which is shown in the photo, improves upon the first model with a modular design that allows users to disassemble, maintain, repair and eventually upgrade parts of the phone to extend its useful life; hopefully, well beyond the current two-year replacement cycle of smartphones. Replacing batteries is simple and the “yours to open, yours to keep” message is a refreshing change from “opening your phone will void your warranty” message of current smartphones. The ability to upgrade the camera, add a SIM card (two slots are available), or expand memory is also appealing. The rubberized back with reinforced corners doubles as a case, eliminating the need for extra accessories. Spare parts are available for purchase, and accessories can be ‘printed’ with a 3D printer. iFixit rates the repairability of the phone a 10 out of 10. And when the customer is ready to upgrade to a new phone, the company’s Take Back program ensures safe and reliable reuse or recycling.
The Fairphone’s software is standard Android with a few differences. An App Life Cycle keeps track of how much an app is being used and puts less-often-used apps in the idle section after a certain amount of time. An extra layer is added to privacy control that rates the “Privacy Impact” of an app as low, medium, or high before a user downloads it. Most importantly, unlike most Android devices, unlocking the software does not violate the phone’s warranty; Fairphone 2 has superuser access built into the operating system. In fact, the company has released the complete build environment and full open source code for developers to build their own Fairphone operating system.
The Fairphone project began with hopes to open up the supply chain and increase the transparency of worker treatment and materials sourcing within the consumer electronics industry. It has evolved into the ethically-sourced production of a viable smartphone with innovative design ideas. Who knows how that will change the industry?
Google’s Ara project with its modular design might overshadow Fairphone’s sleekest design feature. Compare the two products and their price. Is there a market for ethically sourced design otherwise?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Chapter 4 Solutions
Operations and Supply Chain Management 9th edition
Additional Business Textbook Solutions
Marketing: An Introduction (13th Edition)
Macroeconomics
Operations Management
Intermediate Accounting (2nd Edition)
Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains (12th Edition) (What's New in Operations Management)
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
- Cariveh Co sells automotive supplies from 25 different locations in one country. Each branch has up to 30 staff working there, although most of the accounting systems are designed and implemented from the company's head office. All accounting systems, apart from petty cash, are computerised, with the internal audit department frequently advising and implementing controls within those systems. Cariveh has an internal audit department of six staff, all of whom have been employed at Cariveh for a minimum of five years and some for as long as 15 years. In the past, the chief internal auditor appoints staff within the internal audit department, although the chief executive officer (CEO) is responsible for appointing the chief internal auditor. The chief internal auditor reports directly to the finance director. The finance director also assists the chief internal auditor in deciding on the scope of work of the internal audit department. You are an audit manager in the internal audit…arrow_forwardPlease show all steps and answers, thank you!arrow_forwardI am not sure if this is correct, because 8 cannot go directly to 10.arrow_forward
- A practical application in real life to the Critical Path Method is the construction of a bridge with references, give a detailed essay on the stages involved in constructing a bridgearrow_forwardPlease assist in writing a complete reasearch project of the following title: Title of research: Study on the impact of Technology in the Work Place.arrow_forwardIntuition is both an emotional experience and a nonconscious analytic process. One problem, however, is that not all emotions signaling that there is a problem or opportunity represent intuition. Please in your Personal opinion how we would know if our “gut feelings” are intuition or not, and if not intuition, suggest what might be causing them.arrow_forward
- A coworker suggests that the company where you both work would be much more effective if there were no organizational politics. Please in your personal and detailed opinion, What would you say to this person in reply?arrow_forwardWhat is a bottleneck? Would you try to reduce a bottleneck? Why or why not? Please provide a referencearrow_forwardYour firm has been the auditor of Caribild Products, a listed company, for a number of years. The engagement partner has asked you to describe the matters you would consider when planning the audit for the year ended 31January 2022. During recent visit to the company you obtained the following information: (a) The management accounts for the 10 months to 30 November 2021 show a revenue of $260 million and profit before tax of $8 million. Assume sales and profits accrue evenly throughout the year. In the year ended 31 January 2021 Caribild Products had sales of $220 million and profit before tax of $16 million. (b) The company installed a new computerised inventory control system which has operated from 1 June 2021. As the inventory control system records inventory movements and current inventory quantities, the company is proposing: (i) To use the inventory quantities on the computer to value the inventory at the year-end (ii) Not to carry out an inventory count at the year-end (c)…arrow_forward
- Develop and implement a complex and scientific project for an organisation of your choice. please include report include the following: Introduction Background research to the project The 5 basic phases in the project management process Project Initiation Project Planning Project Execution Project Monitoring and Controlling Project Closing Conclusionarrow_forwardNot use ai pleasearrow_forwardSam's Pet Hotel operates 51 weeks per year, 6 days per week, and uses a continuous review inventory system. It purchases kitty litter for $11.00 per bag. The following information is available about these bags: > Demand 95 bags/week > Order cost $52.00/order > Annual holding cost = 25 percent of cost > Desired cycle-service level = 80 percent >Lead time 4 weeks (24 working days) > Standard deviation of weekly demand = 15 bags > Current on-hand inventory is 320 bags, with no open orders or backorders. a. Suppose that the weekly demand forecast of 95 bags is incorrect and actual demand averages only 75 bags per week. How much higher will total costs be, owing to the distorted EOQ caused by this forecast error? The costs will be $ higher owing to the error in EOQ. (Enter your response rounded to two decimal places.)arrow_forward
Purchasing and Supply Chain ManagementOperations ManagementISBN:9781285869681Author:Robert M. Monczka, Robert B. Handfield, Larry C. Giunipero, James L. PattersonPublisher:Cengage Learning