Purchasing

Going global
A 30% improvement in operating earnings is just one of the achievements that Ben Mathews and his purchasing team at the Schneider Electric North American (SENA) Operating Division of the French-based company can proudly proclaim to have helped accomplish in the last two years. His global and strategic sourcing initiative—which has been applied to 80% of SENA's $1 billion annual buy—...

• The Incredible Shrinking Dollar
• Another year of tight supply
• Amidst some concerns, modest growth ahead
• Chemical buyers can reduce importing costs

CPI Edition Chemforecast Another upward price spiral Chemicals Chemical associations add new work group Exclusive Business Data Specialty firms in chem spotlight Free Trade Agreements Chemical buyers can reduce importing costs Departments Buylines Analyzing the pros and cons of outsourcing to China Buyers a bit more upbeat Is Sarbanes-Oxley a burden or blessing? No receipts, no purchase orders—but more value When do you outsource? Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain? Who's News Who's best at moving to low-cost sourcing? Inside Purchasing What's next for prices? Logistics Negotiating skills a must for logistics buyers Are you ignoring a chance to reduce import costs? Hours of Service rule for truck drivers being reviewed RFID News: Report on spending shows a mixed outlook for the technology's future Briefs What's Hot MRO Less trash, more cash Briefs What's Hot Product Update Double-digit recovery for fluid power Efficiency, performance drive new products Readers Sound Off Mega-sourcing: Do you have the skills? Strategic View Why center-led procurement is gaining in purchasing popularity

Metals What's Hot Exclusive Business Data Steel pricing outlook: down Nonferrous Metals Direction of market all depends on China Precious Metals Inflationary pressures persist Steel Analysts are downgrading spot market price outlook Mittal exploring alliance with Chinese steelmaker Tech Update AL gets fuel cell contract News Economy How Supply Managers See High-Tech Business Prices Factors Affecting Product Cost Supply What's Happening in High-Tech Supply Chains Tip Sheet Key Metrics and Supply Alert