Changes

In 2006 Asda-Wal-Mart were ordered to pay $1.66 million for breaking U.K. law by offering illegal inducements to workers to quit a trade union. Around 340 drivers and warehouse staff at a distribution depot in the north-east of England were offered a 10% pay rise if they left the union. The members rejected the offer. A court established that the legislation had been breached and the company was ordered to pay every worker at the depot almost $5000 each in compensation.<ref>''Asda fined for trying to make workers quit union''  [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/feb/11/supermarkets.tradeunions The Guardian], 11 February 2006. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

In 2006 Asda-Wal-Mart were ordered to pay $1.66 million for breaking U.K. law by offering illegal inducements to workers to quit a trade union. Around 340 drivers and warehouse staff at a distribution depot in the north-east of England were offered a 10% pay rise if they left the union. The members rejected the offer. A court established that the legislation had been breached and the company was ordered to pay every worker at the depot almost $5000 each in compensation.<ref>''Asda fined for trying to make workers quit union''  [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/feb/11/supermarkets.tradeunions The Guardian], 11 February 2006. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

In December 2007 Asda-Wal Mart was one of several companies that were fined over $225 million after admitting that they fixed the price of milk, cheese and butter in a scandal estimated to have cost U.K. consumers about $526 million.<ref>''Supermarkets fined for price fixing'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/08/supermarkets.asda The Guardian], 8 December 2007. Accesed 22 January 2008</ref>

In December 2007 Asda-Wal Mart was one of several companies that were fined over $225 million after admitting that they fixed the price of [[milk]], [[cheese]] and [[butter]] in a scandal estimated to have cost U.K. [[consumer]]s about $526 million.<ref>''Supermarkets fined for price fixing'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/08/supermarkets.asda The Guardian], 8 December 2007. Accesed 22 January 2008</ref>

==Political Contributions==

==Political Contributions==

=="Kanban" Just in Time: Interdependent Fragility of the Wal-Mart Distribution System==

=="Kanban" Just in Time: Interdependent Fragility of the Wal-Mart Distribution System==

The Wal-Mart chains of [[supply]] are lengthy and [[fragile]]. The Wal-Mart model is based on a "just in time deliver" or "JIT" or "Kanban" as the [[Japanese]] inventors called it in the [[1960s]]<ref>The [[Japan]]ese invented the "just in time deliver" or "JIT" inventory control system called "kanban" in Japanese.</ref>. The JIT [[inventory control]] of the [[retail]] and [[food distribution system]] is both [[interdependent]] and [[fragile]].  

The Wal-Mart chains of [[supply]] are lengthy and [[fragile]]. The Wal-Mart model is based on a "[[just in time]] delivery" or "JIT" or "Kanban" as the [[Japanese]] inventors called it in the [[1960s]]<ref>The [[Japan]]ese invented the "[[just in time]] delivery" or "JIT" inventory control system called "kanban" in Japanese.</ref>. The JIT inventory control of the [[retail]] and [[food distribution system]] is both [[interdependent]] and [[fragile]].  

Wal-Mart is proof that we live in a fragile [[society]]. The kanban or "[[Just In Time]]" [[inventory]] system was developed in [[Japan]] and became popular in [[America]] starting in the [[1970s]]. It is now [[ubiquitous]] in nearly every [[industry]]. The concept is simple: Through close coordination with subcontractors and piece part suppliers, a [[manufacturer]] can keep its parts inventory small. [[Kanban]] is a key element of lean [[manufacturing]]. [[Manufacturer]]s order batches of parts only as needed, sometimes ordering as frequently as twice a week. Companies now hire Six Sigma [[consultant]]s and Kaizen gurus, they buy sophisticated [[computer|data-processing]] systems, and they hire extra [[purchasing]] administrators, and these expenses actually save them [[money]] at the bottom line.

Wal-Mart is proof that we live in a fragile [[society]]. The kanban or "[[Just In Time]]" [[inventory]] system was developed in [[Japan]] and became popular in [[America]] starting in the 1970s. It is now ubiquitous in nearly every [[industry]]. The concept is simple: Through close coordination with subcontractors and piece part suppliers, a manufacturer can keep its parts inventory small. Kanban is a key element of lean [[manufacturing]]. Manufacturers order batches of parts only as needed, sometimes ordering as frequently as twice a week. Companies now hire Six Sigma consultants and Kaizen gurus, they buy sophisticated [[computer|data-processing]] systems, and they hire extra [[purchase|purchasing]] administrators, and these expenses actually save them [[money]] at the bottom line.

Just In Time inventory systems have several advantages: less [[warehouse]] space, less [[capital]] tied up in parts inventory, and less [[risk]] of parts [[obsolescence]].

Just In Time inventory systems have several advantages: less [[warehouse]] space, less [[capital]] tied up in parts inventory, and less [[risk]] of parts obsolescence.

The downside is that lean inventories leave companies vulnerable to any disruption of [[supply]], for instance in the [[food distribution system]] or [[food production system]]. If [[transportation]] ([[UPS]], [[post office]], [[Fedex]], [[truck]]s, [[ship]]s, [[railroad]], and [[airplane]]s) gets snarled due to a [[Labor strike#Trucker Strike|trucker strike]] or bad [[weather]] or a [[disaster]], or if [[communication]]s get disrupted, or a parts vendor has a [[strike]] or a [[production]] problem, then [[assembly line]]s grind to a halt. Just one missing part means that no finished products go out the door.

The downside is that lean inventories leave companies vulnerable to any disruption of [[supply]], for instance in the [[food distribution system]] or [[food production system]]. If [[transportation]] ([[UPS]], [[post office]], [[Fedex]], [[truck]]s, [[ship]]s, [[railroad]], and [[airplane]]s) gets snarled due to a [[Labor strike#Trucker Strike|trucker strike]] or bad [[weather]] or a [[disaster]], or if [[communication]]s get disrupted, or a parts vendor has a [[strike]] or a [[production]] problem, then [[assembly line]]s grind to a halt. Just one missing part means that no finished products go out the door.

The [[kanban]] concept has also been taken up by most of [[America]]'s [[retail]]ers (with Wal-Mart leading the way), most notably its [[grocery]] [[seller]]s. In the old days — say, twenty years ago — [[grocery store]]s had well-[[stock]]ed back rooms, with many extra cases of dry [[goods]]. But now in most [[store]]s the back room has been replaced with just a [[pallet]]-breakdown area. [[Merchandise]] comes in from [[distribution]] centers and it all goes immediately to the [[consumer]] shelves out front. Thus, what you see on the grocery store shelf is all that the store has on hand. What you see is what you get. The [[barcode]] [[scanner]]s at the checkout counters feed a complex reordering system. If Mrs. Jones buys three [[jar]]s of [[pasta]] [[sauce]], that could [[trigger]] a reorder for three more jars. As long as [[communication]]s and [[transportation]] work smoothly, then the entire system hums along like a [[Swiss]] [[watch]]. But what happens when the transportation [[infrastructure]] gets disrupted? [[Panic]] buying can clean out supermarket shelves in a matter of hours. The important lesson in all this is to get [[prepared]] in advance. Do not count on being able to buy anything to provide for your [[family]] on or after a [[disaster]], or worse such as [[SHTF]] or [[TEOTWAWKI]].  

The kanban concept has also been taken up by most of [[America]]'s [[retail]]ers (with Wal-Mart leading the way), most notably its grocery sellers. In the old days — say, twenty years ago — [[grocery store]]s had well-[[stock]]ed back rooms, with many extra cases of dry [[goods]]. But now in most [[store]]s the back room has been replaced with just a pallet-breakdown area. Merchandise comes in from distribution centers and it all goes immediately to the [[consumer]] shelves out front. Thus, what you see on the grocery store shelf is all that the store has on hand. What you see is what you get. The [[barcode]] [[scanner]]s at the checkout counters feed a complex reordering system. If Mrs. Jones buys three jars of [[pasta]] sauce, that could [[trigger]] a reorder for three more jars. As long as [[communication]]s and [[transportation]] work smoothly, then the entire system hums along like a [[Swiss]] watch. But what happens when the transportation [[infrastructure]] gets disrupted? [[Panic]] buying can clean out supermarket shelves in a matter of hours. The important lesson in all this is to get [[prepared]] in advance. Do not count on being able to buy anything to provide for your [[family]] on or after a [[disaster]], or worse such as [[SHTF]] or [[TEOTWAWKI]].  

===Threats to the "Wal-Mart" system of distrubtion===

===Threats to the "Wal-Mart" system of distrubtion===

* Prices of a barrel of [[crude oil]] and hence the price of [[gasoline]] and [[diesel]]

* Prices of a barrel of [[crude oil]] and hence the price of [[gasoline]] and [[diesel]]

* [[Man-made disaster]]s such as [[war]] and [[terrorism]]

* [[Man-made disaster]]s such as [[war]] and [[terrorism]]

* [[natural disaster]]s such as [[storm]]s, [[tornado]]s, [[hurricane]]s, [[earthquake]]s, etc.

* [[Natural disaster]]s such as [[storm]]s, [[tornado]]s, [[hurricane]]s, [[earthquake]]s, etc.

==See Also==

==See Also==

* [[Food distribution system]]: [[transportation]] ([[truck]]s, [[ship]]s, [[railroad]], and [[airplane]]s), [[warehouse|warehousing]] (such as [[Amazon.com]], [[Costco]]), and [[retail]] facilities such as [[Wal-Mart]] and [[supermarket]]s) which move [[food]] from the [[food production system]] to [[consumer]]s.

* '''[[Food distribution system]]:''' [[Transportation]] ([[truck]]s, [[ship]]s, [[railroad]], and [[airplane]]s), [[warehouse|warehousing]] (such as [[Amazon.com]], [[Costco]]), and [[retail]] facilities (such as [[Wal-Mart]]) which move [[food]] from the [[food production system]] to [[consumer]]s.

* [[Essay:Systems of support|Systems of support]]

* [[Essay:Systems of support|Systems of support]]

* [[Essay:Alternative systems of support|Alternative systems of support]]

* [[Essay:Alternative systems of support|Alternative systems of support]]

* [[Food Production System]]: Modern industrial big [[Agriculture|Agri-business]] versus [[Permaculture]]

* '''[[Food production system]]:''' Modern industrial big [[Agriculture|Agri-business]] versus [[Permaculture]]

* [[Essay:Investing in tangibles|Investing in tangibles]]

* [[Essay:Investing in tangibles|Investing in tangibles]]: [[Food]] and [[Goods]]

* [[Preparedness movement]] and [[Survivalism]]

* [[Preparedness movement]] and [[Survivalism]]