Purchasing

Wal-Mart goes green BIG TIME
Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, wants its 60,000 suppliers to find more efficient packaging methods and to reduce the amount of packaging used, starting in 2008, while making the remaining wrapping and shipping materials environmentally friendlier. Matt Kistler, vice president of packaging and innovation at the Sam’s Club division of the company, says the move “...

• Pcards soar to new heights
• Partners in cost management
• Supplier relationships provide lift in an unstable market
• E-sourcing finds its place
• Economists unsure how low energy prices will go
• Volatile markets are the norm
• Value-add is a must from chemical distributors
• Top CPOs

Chemicals Edition Demand remains strong, but pricing is unsure Business Intelligence Chemical briefs Chemforecast Acetone prices drop in the wake of mounting inventories Chemical Distribution Value-add is a must from chemical distributors Chemicals Flash Report Volatile markets are the norm Green Purchasing EU ruling could cost chemical industry Metals Business Intelligence Metals Chips Aluminum Sourcing Supplier relationships provide lift in an unstable market Lead Plenty of lead means lower prices Stainless Steel World production forecast revised upward; Demand strong despite raw material costs Steel Scrap Cyclical spot-market pricing peak has come and gone World Steel Demand growth of 5% next year will be pushed by emerging markets

News and Departments CPO Views How to survive in a global economy Economy + Supply What's in short supply? Energy, materials inflation is in the cards for the fourth quarter ECONOMY IS RESILIENT NUCLEAR PLANTS PLANNED CHEMICAL BILL NEARS VOTE TRADE DEFICIT EXPANDS PAPERBOARD CAPACITY CUT SAWMILLS CUT OUTPUT INDUSTRY IS MODERATE CHIP BUYING IS ROBUST BAYER SHUTS MDI UNIT WESTLAKE EXPANDS PE CONSUMER INDEXES IMPROVE MORE BATTERIES RECALLED MOTOR HOMES ARE STALLED AT&T EXPANSION DELAYED Leadtime Report Petrochems lengthen Logistics Business intelligence Hallmark gains better visibility into global supply chain UPS dimensional weight billing will have big impact on costs Carriers respond to surcharge proposal MRO + Distribution Business Intelligence Grainger opens branch in China and makes progress on expansion MRO buyers: Look for distributors that step up to the plate MRO Briefs My Turn It’s still the suppliers Players Rick Jacobs, vice president supply chain, Eaton Corp. Prices Buyers believe equipment expansions will boost tooling costs UNCLE SAM PROBES SRAMS FORECAST: SOFTER ROD CHINESE FABRIC MAY JUMP OFFICE FURNITURE TO RISE DIESEL OUTLOOK CUT WEAK LUMBER CONTINUES CARRIERS CUT FUEL FEES IMPORT PRICES SLIDE NATGAS HEDGES STUDIED ELECTRICITY MAY EXPLODE PROPANE STAYS AT $2/GAL COPPER SPIKE TO CONTINUE BIG RIGS WILL COST MORE ACETONE WEAKENS Products Products Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market Purchasing is a differentiator at this small EMS provider Speaking Out Key factors for success in China Trends Business Intelligence Frontier leverages change management in supplier relationships Supplier diversity spending update Darden has the keys to success in supplier diversity Contract compliance, spend visibility top priorities for CPOs Johnson Controls gives awards Morgan Stanley banker suggests the “supercycle” isn’t quite over Purchasing execs on the move... Russian merger plan will create new king of the hill in aluminum market Software news CSCMP broadens out HP study says remanufactured printer cartridges unreliable Tanker rates will fall, container rates climb in 2007 Your Turn RoHS poll stirs debate