Purchasing

How to lasso software savings
As with any other component, commodity or tool you buy, you need a strategy for buying software. Without a well-thought-out plan, you won’t get what you want and you may get a lot of features you don’t want. You could also wind up paying some hidden costs that are avoidable. In this feature, you’ll read about two difference purchasing pros and how they buy software, as well as hear advice from a consultant who helps companies in their IT purchases.

• A supply chain's voyage to world class
• New strategies battle price volatility
• Logistics plants new roots
• When doing business in India: Take it slow
• Supply of RoHS parts tightens
• Bulk packaging remains strong
• Brewer keeps his buying simple

Chemicals Edition Degussa makes hikes UCAR ups styrene Dow boosts acrylics Hexion pushes epoxy tags Lanxess raises prices Ticona ups PE DuPont hikes titanium dioxide Hercules lifts sodium formate Solvay boosts specialty polymers Business Intelligence SweetLake Chemical expands in Mexico BASF wraps up Engelhard Natgas glut could reduce prices Agrium buys Pursell Capacity Expansion China continues to draw investment from chemical and plastics makers Chemforecast Citric acid pricing pattern due for upward turn Energy Buyers wrestle with multiple risks; hedging and aggregating help Energy Update Green projects get more investment Grassroots Report High prices impact buying plans for resins Market Update Bulk packaging remains strong Supply Update Nova declares force majeure after accidental plant shutdown Electronics and Technology Edition Business Intelligence Nu Horizons makes acquisition Digi-Key to carry Panasonic modules Electronics Leadtimes More leadtimes shrink Electronics Trends SIA revises chip forecast upward Memory ICS Increased DRAM capacity means lower tags in the short term Passives Higher materials cost will push up ceramic capacitor prices

Metals Business Intelligence Metal Chips Aluminum Ceradyne, Alcan to make nuclear waste containment material Novelis announces technology 'breakthrough' in multi-alloy casting Supply decisions will be based on market fundamentals DuPont, Alcoa collaborate on composite Alcoa to supply metal for Nike bats Base Metals EU sets battery recycling regulations Cobalt Very healthy end-market demand keeps prices elevated Copper U.S. purchasing slipped by 6% last year High prices could cause some substitution in heat exchangers Price rises hurting the economy, Stewart tells Congress Analysts see China's demand flattening Nickel Prices to beat 2005 levels Stainless Steel New strategies battle price volatility Steel Mills seek higher cold-rolled prices, but how much is unclear Timken expands round bar capabilities Mill shipments are moving upward News and Departments Economy + Supply Chip forecast is up What do you make? What's in short supply? NAND shortage coming Housing to cool Midmarket growth slows Leading indicators are off '07 industrial slump? Chip capex rises NEMA: '06 looks durable Aluminum demand jumps Logistics Ace Hardware leverages software for inbound optimization Business Intelligence MRO + Distribution MRO buyers see more than just nuts and bolts at Fastenal expo Business Intelligence MRO Briefs My Turn Let the buyer beware Office GSK consolidates MFP purchase Business Intelligence Office briefs Packaging Plastic packaging demand grows despite swelling prices Business Intelligence Prices Freight costs, surcharges rankle buyers Metals pricing may drop Gold will stay pricey Building materials up Energy costs flag concern NBSK prices are boosted Boxboard tags stiffen MPU price war brewing Cotton may soar Another view offered CFOs see higher tags ahead Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market Purchasing links suppliers, customers Speaking Out How to collaborate to cut costs Strategies + Tactics Compliance is ticket to expanding travel policy at Tyco International Trends Centralizing delivers new procurement value Business Intelligence Content expertise vs. procurement expertise Purchasing execs on the move... Freight from Asia continues to snarl at West Coast ports Your Turn Move to China stirs interest