Purchasing - June 7, 2001

All of a sudden: MRO is hot. That is, more companies are starting to pay more attention to how their purchasing operations are acquiring MRO goods and services. Back in the old days, requisitioners at plant sites placed orders with a supplier base that numbered sometimes well into the hundreds, or even thousands—as long as the price was right.

• Buylines
• Economic Outlook
• 'Reverse soft landing' will wring out economic excess

• CPI Edition
• What's Hot
• Citric Acid
• Prices for popular drink additive slip slowly, steadily
• Food Chemicals
• Price cycle hits bottom
• Glycerin
• Producers won't be paying more to keep foods moist
• Sodium Bicarbonate
• No big rise in the forecast for this leavening agent
• Strategic Sourcing
• Smart buying saves $1 billion at General Mills

• Departments
• Buylines
• OEMs save by partnering for chemicals management
• Bush moves closer to fast-track trade authority
• Who's News
• Buyers' group fights import quota bill
• Purchasing uses tech tools to get tough on travel costs
• Business index gains a point
• Rules rewritten under Bush
• Qualified buyers continue to land good purchasing jobs
• Career Development
• Attractive Option for Purchasing Pros Nearing the Ends of Their Careers
• Inside Purchasing
• What the all-stars say about buying
• Leadtimes
• Purchasing adds new leads
• Logistics
• DOT backs off reduction in hazmat registration fees
• View from Nasstrac: What worries shippers
• Product Update
• Expect supply crunch if demand rallies fast
• Professional Profile
• Verizon

• Features
• Future of Supply
• Top execs pinpoint six game-changing strategies
• MRO Buying Report
• Supplier involvement is absolutely critical
• Suppliers make a strong commitment to the process
• Technology can reinforce MRO purchasing strategy
• Technology: A tool to help consolidate the MRO buy

• Metals
• What's Hot
• Chips
• Magnesium
• Consumption growth hopes require secure supplies
• Metals Mining
• Nonferrous giants BHP and Billiton to merge
• Stainless Steel
• Manufacturing slump slows specialty steel buys, prices
• Domestic mills look to automotive parts markets
• Steel Bar Market
• Prices have slumped and orders remain lethargic
• Titanium
• Oregon firm exits sponge

• News
• Economy
• How Supply Managers See Business
• Prices
• Factors Affecting Product Cost
• Supply
• Whats Happening In Markets
• Tip Sheet
• Key Metrics and Supply Alert
• Transaction Prices
• Transaction Prices