Purchasing - February 14, 2008

Low-cost country sourcing. It is perhaps the most provocative topic to hit the procurement field in decades. Some procurement executives are eager to share the amount of savings they've generated from sourcing in low-cost regions like China and India, while others are hesitant to even discuss the topic.

• Trends
• LORD Corp. attracts top talent with expanded training offerings
• Tom's of Maine makes all-natural cost-effective

• Chemicals
• Chemicals
• Cost pressures send sodium bicarbonate prices higher
• Benzene prices resist upward push from crude oil

• Electronics Edition
• Electornics Distribution
• Electronics distributors expand EOL services
• Electronics Trends
• Expect less price erosion for relays
• Business Intelligence
• DSP prices will fall in 2008 despite strong demand
• Distribution Briefs
• Demand to grow for flash-based solid-state drives
• Strategic Sourcing
• Buyers focus on shrinking power

• Features
• Corporate Travel
• Corporate travel department delivers efficiency dividend for Charles Schwab
• Global Sourcing
• Global sourcing: Global chemical supply markets getting more complex
• Professional Development
• How to build the procurement Dream Team
• Women in purchasing: Cracks appear in the glass ceiling

• Logistics
• Logistics
• Iron ore contract negotiations impact ocean freight rates
• LTL market dynamics offer buyers leverage on fuel surcharges

• Metals
• Metals Chips
• Business Intelligence
• Aerospace Metals
• ThyssenKrupp Materials North America now is part of global aerospace service center network
• Aluminum
• No rebound seen in extruded aluminum product demand
• Aluminum mill product use ends five-year growth pattern
• Alcoa CEO sees world aluminum demand climbing 9.6%, led by China
• Base Metals
• U.S. recession won't slow global demand surge for nonferrous
• Copper
• Copper outlook for 2008 is a fourth year of reduced demand
• Global Sourcing
• Chinese demand strangles metals supply
• Gold
• China became world's largest gold producer in 2007
• Service Centers
• U.S., Canadian steel inventories rise slightly in December
• Steel Bar Market
• Steel Bar Market Update: Drop in metalworking activity will soften purchasing of long products

• News and Departments
• Black Belt Negotiators
• 'The Battle of the Forms'
• Chemicals
• Business Intelligence
• Economy + Supply
• Software demand strong
• DuPont feeling slump
• Samsung to boost LCD line
• Magnesium expansion eyed
• Nanya ups DRAM output
• Iron-ore deficit predicted
• Ineos buys VAM biz from BP
• Existing-home sales lag
• Ameristeel expands rebar
• Oxoalcohol production up
• Methode Electronics shrinks
• Qatar: feedstock source
• Economy + Supply
• China to export less tin
• Logistics
• Business Intelligence
• MRO + Distribution
• Business Intelligence
• MRO Briefs
• Secret to success for MRO buyers: Communicate with customers
• My Turn
• Global diversity efforts make wise investments
• Office
• Business Intelligence
• Prices
• Platinum prices up, up, up
• Sheet-Steel prices stiffen
• Methanol prices softening
• Gas-tax hike proposed
• PP price hike stunted
• Paperboard price hiked
• Metals price forecast cut
• Toluene price push seen
• Zinc will be up
• WTI oil will rise 22.5%
• Prices
• Uranium prices dropping
• Magnesium heads to $3/lb
• APT price forecast to rise 25%
• DSP prices will fall in 2008
• Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market
• Global sourcing has its challenges for Cognex
• Trends
• Business Intelligence

• Office
• Office
• Document-management software leads to paperless efficiency

• Trends
• Trends
• Chrysler shuffles purchasing executive team
• Top sourcing groups structure data, maintain strict process control
• General Motors extends early lead in developing a Green supply chain
• Railroads predict higher prices in 2008
• Procurement professionals define role in combating counterfeit parts