MRO supply chains must consist of professionals capable of addressing complex business and technical issues with a leadership presence that will produce consistently high achievements," says Albert Keal, director of purchasing operations, powertrain/components and indirect materials, Harley-Davidson Motor Co., winner of PURCHASING Magazine's Medal of Professional Excellence in 2000.

PURCHASING wants to recognize achievement of such professionals—people who are leaders in strategic MRO purchasing. And we need your help!

We're asking our readers to nominate purchasing professionals who demonstrate excellence in procurement and supply chain management performance in the buying of MRO goods and services. Judging by editors to determine recipients of this new honor are based on criteria used to select winners of PURCHASING'S Medal of Professional Excellence.

PURCHASING editors will pick leaders of MRO buying operations based on demonstrated success at managing relationships with suppliers as well as their use of innovative programs to rein in spending on maintenance, repair and operations goods and services.

Other criteria include:

• How well the MRO buying operation's objectives align with corporate management objectives,
• Documented progress at reducing costs (through such efforts as aggregating the MRO buy, use of standardization, compliance to contracts, continuous improvement, technical support), streamlining processes (through supply base reduction, use of outsourcing, use of technology) and improving customer satisfaction,
• An understanding of industry trends and marketplace competitiveness as well as an understanding of supplier costs, and
• Relationships with other corporate functions (maintenance, operations, engineering, accounts payable, etc.).

Winners will be announced in PURCHASING Magazine's Sept. 2002 issue.

Send nominations to Susan Avery, Senior Editor, PURCHASING Magazine, 275 Washington St., Newton, MA 02458 (savery@cahners.com).