Purchasing - June 3, 2004

High on the wish list of just about every chemical industry manager today is finding a way to cope with the roller coaster gyrations of energy prices. Energy price volatility, particularly of natural gas and electricity generated from natural gas, can convert a profit in one quarter into a loss the next, and make budgeting a dicey proposition.

• CPI Edition
• Chemicals
• Firm rides wave of energy procurement outsourcing
• Soda ash supply will get tighter
• Univar eyes bigger role in distribution due to economy
• Getting lean with a LASER's precision

• Departments
• Buylines
• GSK closes the loop using e-sourcing tools
• Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain?
• Version *.*
• Higher prices making Wall Street, Main Street shudder
• Pop quiz
• Richter scholarship recipients named
• Kudos
• Certified Lean
• SciQuest to be bought, become private firm
• Poor risk management threatens supply chain
• Who's News
• Inside Purchasing
• Manage risk in your supply chains
• Logistics
• Chemicals firms seek special attention from 3PL providers
• What's Hot
• MRO
• Management Tips: MRO inventory
• Grainger eases access to products for MRO buyers
• What's Hot
• Product Update
• Make sure you ask the experts for cost-cutting tips
• New products, steel shortages, China's role, roil the market
• Readers Sound Off
• Considerations in Evaluating an international procurement office (IPO) site

• Features
• Buying for Biotech
• Sourcing harnesses entrepreneurial spirit
• P-cards
• Purchasing molds more powerful tools
• Supply chain complexity
• Solutions start with design

• Metals
• What's Hot
• Metals Flash Report
• Will Beijing's economic adjustments cut short the bull market in commodity prices?
• Steel beams
• Buyers and contractors struggle to survive in 'abnormal' year

• News
• Economy
• How Supply Managers See Business
• Prices
• Factors Affecting Product Cost
• Supply
• What's Happening in Markets
• Tip Sheet
• Key Metrics and Supply Alert