Purchasing

KLA-Tencor centralizes sourcing processes in decentralized firm
Like many companies, $2 billion process-control system manufacturer KLA-Tencor Corp. of San Jose, Calif., came to a realization not long ago that its 20 separate divisions were buying a lot of the same materials. Historically, the company’s structure was decentralized and its business units were given freedom to source what they needed from suppliers they had relationships with.

• How to work with engineering specs
• Buyers want high-quality copper but high prices remain a burden
• Mirroring sales, purchasing emphasizes market research
• Biopharmaceutical firm leveragese-procurement for indirect savings
• Brazil offers the best of both worlds
• Nissan pushes suppliers on quality
• Update on buying in the automotive sector
• GM strives for consistent metrics

Chemicals Edition Business Intelligence Chemforecast Producer cutbacks add to upward price pressures Global Markets Malaysian government to slow decline in rubber prices Grassroots Report Chemical buyers take careful approach to overseas sourcing Specialty Coatings PCI’s purchasing works with R&D to reduce materials costs Supply Chain Solutions Biopharmaceutical firm leveragese-procurement for indirect savings Metals Metals Chips Metals Chips Aluminum Russian mega-merger is business, not politics Base Metals IMF report sees global commodity price declines in the future Steel Trade Business Intelligence Global automakers urge an end to coated sheet dumping duties What Buyers Want in Copper Buyers want high-quality copper but high prices remain a burden

News and Departments CPO Views How to outsource business processes Economy + Supply MANUFACTURING IS OK NOW… HOUSING DROP IS REAL RFID TESTS TO BEGIN BLOW MOLDER GROWS BIG TRUCK SALES UP 14% What’s in short supply? …BUT MAY SLOW IN 2007 CEOS ARE NOT SO JOVIAL… …NEITHER IS SMALL BIZ TOSHIBA TO REPLACE BATTERIES PRODUCTIVITY IS RISING HIRING TO STAY STEADY APPLIANCE SLOWDOWN SEEN WAGE-COST GAP WIDENS Leadtime Report Leadtimes tighten Logistics Business Intelligence Goodyear leverages outsourcing partners in modal shifts Driver shortage is not going away any time soon Carriers settle price-fixing suits; package security tightened Logistics outsourcing on the rise in China EPA proposes increased use of ethanol USPS to make more than $1B in cost cuts in 2007 MRO + Distribution One may not be ideal number when optimizing supply base MRO Briefs Distribution's customers continue to be discerning My Turn Suppliers hold key to auto turnaround Prices Buyers plan to pay more for copper and brass products INFLATION MODERATES URANIUM PRICES ARE UP PVA TAGS PUMPED UP LUMBER PRICES NOSEDIVE AIRFARES TO KEEP RISING ETHYLENE PRICES EXPLODE HEATING OIL FUTURES SLIP WATCH OUT FOR TARIFFS POSTAL RATES TO RISE IN ‘07 STAINLESS MAY RISE AGAIN POLYESTER PRICES GOING UP GOLD IS LOSING SHEEN OCTG IS UNDER REVIEW Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market Distributor ranks supplier market share as top metric Speaking Out Purchasing professionals as salespeople Trends Business Intelligence KLA-Tencor centralizes sourcing processes in decentralized firm Material costs major concern for suppliers in 2006 Most Chinese see bribes as necessary Fluor Hanford builds online buying tool in-house Purchasing execs on the move... Automotive suppliers need cost transparency Software News Helium supply deflates, gas prices rise quickly Effective supplier management is top priority when disaster strikes Anglo Platinum brings rural suppliers online China wants more say in global commodity price negotiations PLM Market to see continued growth Procuri buys TrueSource, partners with SciQuest New supply chain visibility tools Your Turn Differences on prices