The hottest Outsourcing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

After the Global Factory

European Straits • 7 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
💼 Business Manufacturing Supply Chain Outsourcing Strategy Economics
  1. Apple was able to succeed in manufacturing by controlling key parts of its value chain while outsourcing the rest. This allowed them to maintain high value without owning all the factories.
  2. Companies don’t need to own everything to be successful in manufacturing; they just need to control the important parts where they can influence the entire process.
  3. Manufacturing is complex and tricky. Successful companies find ways to balance costs with strategies that create value, ensuring they earn profits even when things get challenging.

Why is Boeing such a shitty corporation?

Robert Reich • 33589 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Outsourcing Ownership
  1. Airbus has taken the lead over Boeing in manufacturing and sales of commercial aircraft
  2. Boeing's commitment to safety has been doubted by the public and airlines, affecting its reputation
  3. Airbus and Boeing differ in ownership and worker power, which impacts their approach to manufacturing and safety

Why I Gave Up Solo Freelancing And You Should Too.

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 79 implied HN points • 26 Aug 24
💼 Business Freelancing Entrepreneurship Outsourcing Income Work Life
  1. Freelancing offers flexibility, but it can also mean you have to work constantly, even when you're not feeling well. There can be no breaks without risking your income.
  2. Life changes can force you to reevaluate your work style, like having to care for a family member or dealing with personal health issues. It shows that relying solely on freelancing can lead to financial instability.
  3. Building a business that runs independently allows you to have more freedom. By outsourcing tasks, you can focus on what you love and still earn money, instead of trading your time for every dollar.

Penny-Wise and Pound-Stupid

Rethinking Software • 549 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Outsourcing Productivity Tools Collaboration
  1. Outsourcing might seem like a money-saver, but it can make teamwork harder and slow down projects. It's important to consider all the hidden costs before deciding.
  2. Using low-quality tools can frustrate programmers and hurt their morale, which ultimately harms productivity. Giving developers good tools shows that you value their work.
  3. Keeping everyone busy all the time doesn't always mean being productive. It's better to let teams focus on clearing bottlenecks and maintaining a good workflow instead.

Choosing a Data Catalog

Sarah's Newsletter • 279 implied HN points • 03 May 22
🕹 Technology Open Source Outsourcing
  1. In startup culture, collaboration comes naturally, but as organizations grow, maintaining data documentation becomes challenging. Having a centralized data catalog tool is crucial for larger organizations to speak the same language and avoid miscommunications.
  2. Documentation in analytics should enable quick access and understanding of data assets, reducing time spent searching for information and improving decision-making. It goes beyond just listing items and involves data discovery and enablement.
  3. Consider different types of data catalog tools based on your organization's size, budget, and specific needs. Choose tools based on factors like security, collaboration features, integrations with existing data tools, and the level of support required.
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Navigating the Turbulence of Modular Strategy, Innovation, and Quality Control at Boeing

Gad’s Newsletter • 61 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy Quality control Innovation Outsourcing
  1. Boeing's quality and safety issues are influenced by a culture prioritizing speed over quality.
  2. Poor supplier management practices contributed to Boeing's recent quality problems.
  3. Boeing's focus on short-term profits led to challenges with innovation, supplier management, and quality control.

Something's Rotten in the State of Washington

Ulysses • 6 HN points • 22 Mar 24
💼 Business Management Outsourcing Aerospace Quality control
  1. Boeing faced a downward spiral due to mismanagement involving outsourcing, cost-cutting, and layoffs. These actions affected safety, reliability, and led to tragic consequences.
  2. The decision to outsource important design work to international centers, such as in Moscow and India, resulted in errors and quality issues due to inexperienced engineers and layoffs of experienced staff.
  3. The lack of quality control and oversight in Boeing's manufacturing processes led to significant issues, including faulty oxygen systems and non-conforming parts, raising serious concerns about aviation safety.

Full of contempt, she refused to talk to the engineers

Respectful Leadership • 74 HN points • 24 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership Management Communication Technology Outsourcing
  1. The project was over-budget and behind schedule because of a lack of communication and relationship-building with the team.
  2. High turnover in outsourcing relationships can lead to accumulating technical debt and lower quality of work.
  3. Building a long-term, trusting relationship with essential technology or roles is crucial for successful outcomes.

Worst reasonable efforts

The Jolly Contrarian • 2 HN points • 14 Jun 24
💼 Business Legal Contracts Outsourcing Insurance Customer Service
  1. The concept of 'worst reasonable efforts' is a satirical take on the idea of performing at the minimal acceptable level in contracts and agreements.
  2. Many organizations, such as for-profit insurers, airlines, and rental companies, often operate on the premise of providing 'worst reasonable efforts' to customers.
  3. The prevalence of 'worst reasonable efforts' in modern society highlights the sacrifice of quality for scale and the acceptance of mediocrity in various aspects of life.

What I learned failing to outsource an MVP

Remus’s Symposium • 2 HN points • 15 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Outsourcing Software Development Developers Entrepreneurship
  1. Building an MVP requires more than just outsourcing; becoming technical as a founder can be crucial for success.
  2. Choosing fancy new technologies for an MVP, like Flutter, may lead to unexpected challenges and delays; sticking to tried-and-true web technologies can simplify the process.
  3. Outsourcing software development as a non-technical founder can be risky due to communication difficulties and lack of control over the project; learning to code can empower you to have a hands-on approach and clearer vision.

Axial Discovery - Marketplaces in Life Sciences

Discovery by Axial • 3 implied HN points • 18 May 23
💼 Business Marketplaces Outsourcing Talent Health data
  1. Outsourcing marketplaces in life sciences have emerged with companies like Science Exchange providing trust and confidentiality for R&D services.
  2. Talent marketplaces are growing in the field of life sciences, with platforms like Clora matching consultants with companies and projects.
  3. Marketplaces for consumables and reagents (C&R) in life sciences offer opportunities for connecting suppliers and customers, such as Quartzy and Zageno.