Two MRO/Distribution News stories this month focus on innovative purchasing professionals who have helped figured out ways for their companies to be more productive. The first details results of a survey conducted by an MRO buyer at an automotive supplier. The buyer, Brandon Redwine, was looking to help his company realize the most benefit from implementing maintenance management software. Through his study, he learned that even something as simple as providing users with additional training can pay off in increased downtime and lower costs. In the second story, Mary Kroening, who used to work in the packaging procurement organization at 3M, helped develop software that identifies strategic sourcing opportunities for the packaging buy. 3M is deploying the latest version of the software internally which it expects to help save $40 million over five years. Now, 3M markets the software to other organizations. The purchasing field is ripe with innovation. In addition to the pages of this magazine, MRO buyers will find stories of enterprising purchasing pros at conferences such as the ISM MRO/Indirect Buyers Group annual event August 29 in Seattle. For more info, visit www.indirectmro.com.

savery@reedbusiness.com