Purchasing Blogs
New data proves steel hasn't been strong for some time
According to the latest from the World Steel Association (WSA), global steel consumption fell last year for the first time in a decade. Apparent consumption of finished steel products in 2008 was 1,198,000,000 metric tons, down by 1.4% from 1,215,000,000 in 2007. Total world production, meanwhile, was placed at 1,326,500,000 metric tons in 2008, down from 1,351,300,000 in 2007.UNCTAD also recent ... More
About this blog
COMMODITIES UPDATE written by Bob Garino is a review of supply, demand and pricing activities in various commodity markets.
Are you Influential?
Undoubtedly, you are familiar with radio program contests. One of my favorite radio stations has a daily contest where the contestant either agrees or disagrees with the truth of five trivia statements. The contestant can use three “life lines” if he or she is stumped by a statement. Frequently the contestant will agree or disagree with a statement stating 80% or hi ... More
About this blog
LEADERSHIP is a blog covering the skills needed for leadership in purchasing and the supply chain. Lara Nichols has a wealth of experience in supplier management, technology management, risk management, performance metrics and much more. For a full bio, see Profile.
Book review: The Supply-Based Advantage
Do you have supplier problems? You should read “The Supply-Based Advantage: How to Link Suppliers to Your Organizations Corporate Strategy” by Stephen C. Rogers. It’s published by the American Management Association.Rogers is a senior consultant with the Cincinnati Consulting Consortium, concentrating on purchasing and supplier management, and an adjunct professor at Xavier Un ... More
About this blog
CAREER TURNS focuses on issues of professional development and change within the procurement field - or is it the purchasing field?
When it comes to outsourcing, walk (around the block) before you run
One of the most common mistakes companies make when deciding to outsource is jumping over the edge and trying to do it quickly and to the lowest cost geography in an effort to see immediate savings. The problem with most companies who have not outsourced before is that their process won’t easily allow it to happen. I am not talking about ERP systems-I am talking about building and testing t ... More
About this blog
Lessons from the Road is a blog focusing on the strategies and challenges of global sourcing in today’s supply chain. Blogger Michael Higgs is a working supply chain professional and writes about his travels in meeting with suppliers in low-cost regions around the world.
The Personal Supply Chain
After 55 years of hard work, my oil-fired furnace is nearing its demise. As capital equipment goes, it is fully depreciated. Soon the clanking, puff-backs, and failed ignition sequences will be replaced by a state of the art system that promises to save me oil, provide copious amounts of hot water, and allow me to take advantage of a $1500 tax credit. Still, what seems like a simple decision came ... More
About this blog
BACK TO SCHOOL is a blog focusing on academic and professional development in the supply chain and procurement fields. Blogger Richard Weissman is a 25-year veteran of both the professional and academic worlds of supply chain. For full bio, see Profile.
Orders increase in Asia
Asian sourcing is starting to pick up as the domestic market in China is beginning to recover. Prices are mostly stable and orders are beginning to increase. Chinese brands for clothing, electronics, and toys are spreading throughout Asia and are evident in stores in major cities like Manila and Bangkok. This allows the Chinese domestic economy to maintain some capacity waiting for an upswing in ... More
About this blog
Global View provides perspectives on sourcing and supply-chain management in low-cost countries.
Barriers to realizing value from TCO for indirect-MRO
There is a change taking place in the world of MRO in that total cost of ownership (TCO) considerations are becoming the focus of supplier selections. Although factors other than price are stated to have value in supplier selection, low price was, and still is, the determinant because it is perceived as measurable. Since market basket processes compare less than 4% of the buy and prices change fro ... More
About this blog
MRO & MORE focuses on maintenance, repair and operations sourcing strategies and looks at ways purchasing operations can better control costs surrounding the buy. George Krauter has more than 40 years’ experience in the fields of industrial distribution and MRO purchasing.
Better get competitive bids
A recent article in nextgov.com slammed the U.S. Navy for awarding $500 million in engineering contracts without adequate competition. Will the report create enough momentum to finally change FAR’s treatment of set-asides for IDIQ contracts? It just might. Especially in this era of hyper-sensitivity to adequate competition, this report might be just enough to put this topi ... More
About this blog
Government Contracting is a blog about purchasing best practices in the government sector, federal, state and local. Lee Crane is a contracting officer with the U. S. Postal Service and has both CPM and CPIM certification.
