New tech tools for better decisions
Doug Smock, Editor-in-Chief -- Purchasing, 4/1/2004 2:00:00 AM
Twenty years ago it was a best practice in purchasing to allocate business based on an approved supplier list. Ten years ago it was best in class to measure supplier performance based on metrics more advanced than just quality, delivery performance and price. Today the best-in-the-business determine supply allocation based on sophisticated algorithms powering decision-support tools that study risk and other issues based on historical performance teamed with forecasts. Gut is reduced to a mathematical model. See page 37 for a highly readable article on this subject by Managing Editor Anne Millen Porter.
Anne joined the editorial staff of PURCHASING magazine in 1989 not long after she graduated from Wellesley College with little idea that, in a year, she would be writing articles for a national business magazine aimed at purchasing professionals. Not surprisingly, she loved the challenge and became one of the best instinctive editors in the history of our business. She became managing editor three years ago and has been a creative force in the development of the magazine. Her service to readers has always been outstanding; her forte has been translating complex technical subjects into easily understandable analysis.
When Kathy Doyle moved into the publisher's job at PURCHASING, Anne saw an opportunity to advance her career in a new creative way—replacing Kathy as the Business and Product Development Manager. She will assume that duty soon, bringing her brainpower and energy to a new approach at PURCHASING. We thank her for her contribution, congratulate her and wish her the best of luck. She'll still be close by.
Our coverage of decision-support tools and other new technology does not stop on the printed page. We will be presenting new tech tools in our second Global Procurement Conference on April 20-21. We'll examine strategies by major players such as IBM, Motorola and Bayer and probe topics such as spend analysis, contract management, supplier measurement, the role of finance, and MRO sourcing. For details, check page 51, Register now at www.globalprocurement.purchasing.com
Jim Morgan, editor, mentor, leader
11/19/2009Purchasing learns cost modeling, accounting
10/15/2009Porter named managing editor at Purchasing
05/02/2001
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