Tune in to PURCHASING's second Global Procurement Conference, April 20-21 at www.globalprocurement.purchasing.com to hear once again what the best and brightest are doing in supply management.

Each day starts at 11 a.m. Eastern time with keynote Webcasts featuring members of PURCHASING's Editorial Advisory Board. IBM, a leader for the past eight years in sourcing transformation is launching new initiatives called "on-demand supply chain" that are designed to make the organization more flexible, particularly through improving supplier communications, explains Chief Procurement Officer John Paterson. Theresa Metty explains in the Webcast how Motorola is moving beyond spend leverage to actual spend reduction. She is establishing SWAT teams to manage indirect spend, for example. Among several initiatives Bayer's Bob Rudzki is putting more focus on include contract management. Paterson, Metty and Rudzki will all speak in the keynote session held April 20.

Rounding out day one will be sessions on MRO sourcing, measuring supplier performance, spend management on demand, and creation of a process- and knowledge-driven sourcing organization.

The next morning kicks off with a look at the purchasing transformation at Delphi, one of the leading Tier I automotive suppliers. Top buyer Dave Nelson, who won Purchasing's Medal of Excellence at Honda and Deere, will describe what it means to develop a "lean" supply chain. Dave will report on how effective supplier development requires suppliers and their customers to share technology, risk, benefits and accountability. Other can't-miss sessions on day two cover tips on establishing closed-loop strategic sourcing programs, global spend analysis, the role of finance in procurement programs, and lifecycle contract management.

The registration site includes a form that can used to apply for certification credits from the Institute for Supply Management.

We have received a few calls asking where the Global Procurement Conference will be held. It will be held on the Internet and you can participate from wherever you are. All you need is a computer and a phone line. It's totally free thanks to the support of our sponsors. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes, allowing a 15-minute break before the next session begins. The conference should conclude about 4 p.m. each day.