Creative Destruction

   It’s the kind of news that’s no longer news.

   Emergent BioSolutions, which manufactures the Anthrax vaccine at a plant in Lansing, announced plans to eliminate 91 jobs, reducing the size of its labor force at this facility by 24 percent.

     The reason? The company has installed a newer manufacturing process that incorporates more automation, thus requiring fewer workers. Previously, the plant produced nine million doses a year. Now, with the new operational system, housed a newer facility, it can turn out 20 million doses.

   More production with less staff.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

    In 1968, the Phillip Morris Company introduced Virginia Slims, a cigarette aimed at young, professional women. The idea was that female smokers would embrace the idea of having their own brand. A Virginia Slim cigarette--being thinner and slightly longer--was supposedly more eloquent looking when held in a lady’s hand. It also produced less smoke. These attributes, the company felt, that would make it more appealing to the fairer sex.

   Other than height and width, there was little to distinguish this brand from the other cigarettes. But that’s true of a lot of products. To encourage consumers to purchase your product rather than a competitor’s offering requires marketing and advertising. To that end, the promoters of Virginia Slims used the slogan: “You’ve come a long way, baby.”

Legislation would allow corporations the opportunity to pursue philanthropic goals as part of their business

 Representatives Vaupel & Greig hold panel discussion on proposed Benefits Corporations

  Doing too much of a good thing, such as buying materials exclusively from local vendors or earmarking part of the profits for a social cause, can get a corporation in trouble with its shareholders.

  With current law, an incorporated company is supposed to maximize its profits.  While that doesn’t preclude a company from doing such things as sponsoring community events or awarding scholarships to students, if a shareholder feels such activities are hurting the bottom line too much, they can go to court.