Brown bananas, crowded ports, empty shelves: What to expect if there’s a big dockworkers strike in the US
Whether you’re buying a can of sardines or a screwdriver, getting products to consumers requires that supply chains function well.
The INFORMS Analytics+ Conference showcased how companies are turning advanced analytics and AI into measurable operational results
Fake Hermès Birkin bags and other counterfeit luxury goods are popular not only with people on a budget, but also with those with deeper pockets, a new study suggests.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore analyzed millions of counterfeit purchases by American consumers from more than 24,000 U.S. zip codes on a major cross-border, e-commerce platform. They found that both lower- and higher-income individuals are “significantly more likely” to buy fake luxury items than middle-income consumers, according to a press release by INFORMS on Monday.
'Ghost ships' are vessels that disappear from public tracking systems, their location manipulated or their digital record misleading. An estimated 65% of outbound tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz operate in dark mode, reducing visibility and increasing supply chain uncertainty. Misinformation in vessel tracking can cause manufacturing delays, compliance risks and financial losses. Layered verification processes, combining AIS data with other sources and escalation triggers for handling uncertain shipments, can help mitigate risk.
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Jeff Cohen
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INFORMS
Catonsville, MD
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Whether you’re buying a can of sardines or a screwdriver, getting products to consumers requires that supply chains function well.
Over the past week, Google has called more than a dozen witnesses to defend itself against claims by the Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general that it has a monopoly in advertising software that places ads on web pages, part of a second major federal antitrust trial against the tech giant.
The dock worker's contract covering 38 ports expires Oct. 1.
BALTIMORE, MD, September 30, 2024 –
EDITOR’S NOTE: Decision Science Digest is a periodic communique highlighting recent peer-reviewed research published by INFORMS, the largest association for the decision and data sciences, across its 17 journals. This issue highlights four press releases based on the findings of new peer-reviewed articles.
Americans could face high prices and shortages again this holiday season but this time, it would be because of a worker strike instead of a global pandemic.

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