Purchasing

Purchasing molds more powerful tools
Purchasing operations are taking a new look at purchasing cards. For the past 20 years or so, buyers have used purchasing cards as a payment tool for low dollar indirect goods and services, i.e., mainly some maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) items and office supplies, requisitioned by employees within the company.

• Will Beijing's economic adjustments cut short the bull market in commodity prices?
• How to improve the energy buy
• Getting lean with a LASER's precision
• Sourcing harnesses entrepreneurial spirit

CPI Edition Chemicals Univar eyes bigger role in distribution due to economy Firm rides wave of energy procurement outsourcing Getting lean with a LASER's precision Soda ash supply will get tighter Departments Buylines Poor risk management threatens supply chain Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain? Kudos GSK closes the loop using e-sourcing tools Richter scholarship recipients named Higher prices making Wall Street, Main Street shudder Version *.* SciQuest to be bought, become private firm Who's News Pop quiz Certified Lean Inside Purchasing Manage risk in your supply chains Logistics Chemicals firms seek special attention from 3PL providers What's Hot MRO Grainger eases access to products for MRO buyers Management Tips: MRO inventory What's Hot Product Update Make sure you ask the experts for cost-cutting tips New products, steel shortages, China's role, roil the market Readers Sound Off Considerations in Evaluating an international procurement office (IPO) site

Metals What's Hot Metals Flash Report Will Beijing's economic adjustments cut short the bull market in commodity prices? Steel beams Buyers and contractors struggle to survive in 'abnormal' year News Economy How Supply Managers See Business Prices Factors Affecting Product Cost Supply What's Happening in Markets Tip Sheet Key Metrics and Supply Alert