Purchasing - August 17, 2006

Strategic sourcing requires knowledge of the best suppliers. This story on the top semiconductor suppliers will help electronics-equipment manufacturers, including cell phone manufacturers, laptop manufacturers, DVD manufacturers and automotive-electronics manufacturers, identify the leading microchip, integrated circuit and other semiconductor manufacturers who can help them with supply chain solutions.

• Chemicals Edition
• Business Intelligence
• Dow unit ups nitrile butadiene
• Plastics Addititives
• Raw materials and energy price hikes continue to impact prices
• Specialty Chemicals
• Specialty non-pharma suppliers stress technologies to keep buyers

• Electronics and Technology Edition
• Electronic Trends
• LED market brightens; tags fall
• Portable consumer devices drive integrated passive device growth
• Brace for price hikes ahead for cooling fans
• Electronics Trends
• Business Intelligence
• Big growth for tiny packages
• Distributors focus on design services

• Features
• 2006 MRO All Stars
• MVPs
• Global Sourcing
• Collaboration trumps negotiations
• Supplier Diversity
• Supplier diversity: Best practices in action
• Supplier managment
• Communication key in product development

• Metals
• Business Intelligence
• Supplier partnerships help solve design problems for special parts
• Powder Metals
• Auto industry turmoil reduces purchasing of value-added parts
• Steel Trade Wars
• U.S. mills want trade action against China

• New & Departments
• CPO Views
• Evolution, innovation are constants

• News and Departments
• Economy + Supply
• What’s in short supply?
• Can oil weather the storm?
• Dow grows mideast plans
• Housing is sputtering
• Manufacturing is strong
• Cell phone sales perked up
• Bio-platic capacity expands
• Aerospace is roaring back
• Plastic compounds surge
• Flash outook bright
• Confidence index up
• Speciality rules could flop
• Machinery is booming
• Leadtime Report
• Leadtimes move out
• Logistics
• Small parcel news
• SCS sells Jevic unit, focuses on Saia
• The right parcel carrier improves the bottom line
• Business Intelligence
• My Turn
• Think like your global partners think
• Office
• Buying office supplies online is savings in the bank
• Business Intelligence
• Prices
• PE increases aren't sticking
• Butanol prices stay firm
• Buyers plan to pay more for corrugated containers
• Brace for fan price hikes
• Costs high, inflation slows
• Gas prices slow demand
• Coal prices may crumble
• Asphalt continues to climb
• Mills want tool-steel hikes
• Gold volatility continures
• Expect lower lumber prices
• Steel plate market stiffens
• Boxboard prices higher
• Nonferrous prices are up
• Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market
• Acquisitions present challenges, benefits for midmarket procurement
• Trends
• Business Intelligence
• Spend consolidation takes another view at Scotts
• CSCMP hosts sourcing conference
• Air export, ground parcel shipments hit highs
• API creates materials management org
• Purchasing execs on the move...
• EU charges Mastercard with price-fixing
• Executive news
• Partner with suppliers to smooth out price fluctuations
• More evidence ocean rates are sinking
• Corrections
• Your Turn
• Pricing dominates discussion