Coming Stories
An invitation to contribute your industry expertise in purchasing and procurement by submitting your professional experience to the editors of Purchasing Magazine.
By Purchasing Staff -- Purchasing, 12/12/2008 2:00:00 AM
For more information on the 2010 stories, contact the appropriate editor:
Contact: Tom Stundza
ELECTRONICS
Contact: James Carbone
LOGISTICS
Contact: Dave Hannon
MRO + Distribution
Contact: Susan Avery
CHEMICALS
Contact: Dave Hannon
CORPORATE TRAVEL
Contact: Susan Avery
SCALE UP Case studies on the buying strategies of a midmarket company.
Contact: Dave Hannon
Suggest a scenario for ourBlackbelt Negotiators section.
Contact: Paul Teague
Nominate a company for a How They Buy Case Study
Contact: Dave Hannon
Strategic Sources: To register as a "strategic source" for Purchasing stories, email Managing Editor Dave Hannon at dhannon@reedbusiness.com with your name, title, company and area of specialty. If you fit into a story, we'll contact you.
Start a conversation and connect with other buyers on PurchasingBizconnect.com
GET INVOLVED
The editors of Purchasing are continually seeking the input of members of the procurement and supply chain industry. If you are an industry participant or a procurement expert, we want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR 2010 EDITORIAL CALENDARS
If you have an idea for a story, contact chief editor Paul Teague.
Here are the stories we are planning for the January 2010
issue. Please contact the appropriate editor if you have information about the
topics being covered.
FULL RUN
Features
Contract management tools for tight budgets. With the benefits of contract management tools shining through ever more brightly, a broader spectrum of companies are considering adopting them or expanding their existing tools. However, with budgets especially tight, adopters want to know how they can get the most bang for their buck with contract management. This story will tell potential contract management software adopters just what they may be able to get within a midmarket budget. Interviews will include users, providers and experts in the contract management software space. Editor: Dave Hannon
Purchasing's growing role in the services buy. This story presents an in-depth look at the global procurement operation at Godiva Chocolatier, based on interviews with John Bradshaw, vice president of global procurement, and his team. Naturally, the company, which has $350 million in annual spend, purchases chocolate, but it also sources packaging and printing, advertising, corporate travel and a host of other services. Bradshaw's been on board for about three years and details how he and his team hit the ground running by helping with an important new product launch. Editor: Susan Avery
Tools and strategies for analyzing supplier health. If corporations have learned anything from the economic woes of the past year, it's that the finances of their suppliers is as important to them as it is to the suppliers. Many suppliers have gone bankrupt and shut operations. Others have had difficulty keeping commitments because of their cash flow problems-or the cash flow problems of the tier 2 suppliers. This report will describe best practices for analyzing supplier financial health and spotting problems before they disrupt supply. Editor: Paul Teague
Sections
Office products. Purchasing's annual "industry update and 2010 outlook" presents everything buyers need to know as they prepare to source office equipment-copiers, printers, multifunction products-and supplies such as toner and paper. Based on interviews with executives at office equipment companies as well as industry analysts, the story provides details for the next 12 months on buying conditions (demand and supply, leadtimes, pricing) as well as the latest technology advances and product enhancements. Editor: Susan Avery
Logistics. Small parcel market update. This article will provide small parcel shippers with an update on the carrier landscape, latest offerings and cost control tips. Special focus will be paid to the small parcel carrier's role in ramping up for the economic recovery. Editor: Dave Hannon
MRO news. An update of what's new with integrated supply based on a series of interviews with executives at WESCO Distribution and Bruckner Supply. They detail challenges and success stories of integrated supply (the outsourcing of MRO purchasing, inventory management and other processes to lower- cost and improve efficiency), including a look at how Bruckner and the supply management team at United Technologies, a Medal of Professional Excellence recipient, are taking integrated supply global. Editor: Susan Avery
Corporate travel. Industry update and 2010 outlook. Here's what travel procurement professionals can expect from "the new normal" in travel for 2010. (That means top management is making smarter decisions about which employees travel and why based on input from purchasing.) Interviews with execs at travel management companies and other sources provide insight into supply, demand and price conditions for hotels, airlines, car rental companies and meetings and events. Editor: Susan Avery
Scale up. Profile of a mid-market company and how it organizes its purchasing operations. Editor: Paul Teague
Black Belt Negotiator. Report of an actual buyer-supplier negotiation, including the stakes for both sides and how they overcame differences. Editor: Paul Teague
Speaking out. An opinion piece by a leader in purchasing and supply chain management. Editor: Paul Teague
CHEMICALS EDITION
Chemicals. How a major manufacturer manages the chemicals spend
This story will provide a case study for the readers of purchasing who source chemicals and plastics. It will detail a major company's best practices in chemicals sourcing and supplier management. Editor: Paul Teague
Surfactants outlook. This report will provide surfactant buyers with an update on supply, demand and pricing for these all-important manufacturing ingredients. Sources will include buyers, suppliers and market experts. Editor: Dave Hannon
ELECTRONICS EDITION
Component pricing in 2010. Buyers will read this story because it fills one of their most important information need-pricing information for the componenhts they need. Buyers will learn that they can expect mostly stable to slightly down prices for most electronic components in 2010. Suppliers will be slow to increase production and build inventory as the industry bounces back from the downturn. The exception could be memory ICs which will likely be volatile depending on the strength of demand. Editor Jim Carbone
How an EMS provider buys. Small electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers often buy much of their component requirements from distributors However, while many larger EMS providers buy directly from component manufacturers, many also use distributors for supply chain management services. Such services often help EMS providers reduce total cost. Editor: Jim Carbone
Catalog distributors. The bread-and-butter business of catalog distribution is new product introduction. However, many buyers also turn to catalog distributors when parts are in short supply because catalog distributors often have inventories of parts. Editor: Jim Carbone
METALS EDITION
China's impact on the metals market. Metals buyers keep a keen eye on China because of that country's ability to control pricing and supply. In this story, they'll learn that the domestic market for steel and nonferrous metals remains well supplied, yet early forecasts suggest increased production in China again in 2010. That is leading to speculation that China will boost exports, expanding global supply and lowering global pricing. Key issue: There are more expectations of strong 2010 growth in China's metalworking economy than evidence of real growth fundamentals. Editor: Tom Stundza
Nonferrous metals outlook 2010. Analysts think prices will rise by an average 20% next year, but there are doubts about that expectation. Readers will look to this report as they prepare forecasts. They'll learn that much depends on the rate of expansion in such key consuming regions as Asia, North America and Europe. Michael Widmer, metals strategist with Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, suggests a "relatively healthy rebound in world GDP growth" and an improvement in metals demand-partly because many government stimulus packages won't mature until next year. However, nobody has a handle yet on the real strength of consumer spending on durable goods (meaning cars and appliances), housing and nonresidential construction projects, machinery and equipment, trucks and off-road vehicles. Editor: Tom Stundza
Market update: Copper & brass mill products. Auto, housing and electronics markets have been particularly hard hit by the recession, which short-circuited demand for wiring, electrical components, plumbing and other copper and brass products. We'll poll the metals analysts to see the likely direction of pricing and supply. Editor: Tom Stundza.
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