Purchasing

Basics of the software buy
Picking the right software tools for improving your purchasing operations is a time-consuming and sometimes-daunting task. Which, of course, makes it similar to the process for buying any critical component, whether a commodity, logistics services, electronics subassemblies or travel. To make it easier, just follow the basics: analyze your true needs, analyze the supply market, build a budget, ...

• Avoid a mess, clean your data
• PLM gets buyers under the hood
• MRO suppliers help uncover hidden factory
• Suppliers have interest in improving the business
• MRO strategy steering teams share forecasts
• The bucks stop at MRO
• Composites bring Boeing's buyers, engineers and parts suppliers closer
• 5 'musts' for justifying IT budgets
• How to Analyze the Supply Market
• Distributors take on global sourcing with a customer focus

Chemicals Edition Business Intelligence- Demand growth for mixed xylenes through 2009 (in metric tons); and Buyers reporting price increases in inorganic chemicals Global Sourcing News Chemforecast Biofuels, pharma markets spur increased enzyme demand Chemical Distribution Distributors take on global sourcing with a customer focus Engineered Polymers Collaboration with polymer suppliers nets improvements Industry News Dow to change focus, expand MDI capacity Market Update Buyers at detergent makers leverage natural ingredients to reduce costs Metals Business Intelligence-OCTG per-ton price; Metric ton copper deficit and Tantalum's average price Chips Boom in world prices may be nearing an end Alloying and Plating Metals Buyers will pay even more than they planned in 2007

News and Departments Economy + Supply Economy + Supply Slow Growth Predicted Building Goods Demand Off Inventories Are Rising LNG Imports Will Increase Honda Plans Small Jets Business Spending Slows Chile Could Up Copper Consumer Index Up Housing Could Weaken China May Cut Tin Exports Appliance Outlook Slows 2006 GDP Up 3.4% Grid May Lack Power CEA: Short-term Is Bright The Newest Blackberry Leadtime Report Leadtime Report Electrogalvanized is easy to get Light structurals are in excess Titanium leadtimes fly high Molded plastics stuck in neutral Linerboard leads have plateaued Ethylene is a just a little tighter Nylon leadtimes are trending down Logistics Truckload capacity expands, shippers reap the benefits Business Intelligence-Forecasted average diesel price in 2007; Number of Boeing 767 freighters ordered by UPS and Truckers reporting reduced congestion at West Coast ports Pamida Stores looks to truckload carrier for transition help Swift Transportation agrees to buyout offer from founder STB issues fuel surcharge ruling for railroads Air cargo to triple globally by 2025, price-fixing suit filed Detours MRO + Distribution MRO purchasing pros demand more personal buying experience Business Intelligence-Power transmission suppliers predicting increased demand in 2007; Average salary for a woman MRO buyer; and MRO buyers who have a corporate level position MRO Briefs Fastenal expo to have more training for MRO buyers Outsourcing Grainger publishes new catalog with more than 138,000 MRO items My Turn MRO gets its day in the sun Players Corey G. Timm, purchasing agent, Milltronics Manufacturing Prices Energy, aluminum costs are the highest in February Prices Paid Slide Coal Prices Remain Low Winter Boosts Natgas No Trend In Oil Yet Rubber Prices Slipping ABS Increase Flops PVC Pipe Prices Soften Tin Prices Rise On Deficit Copper Product Prices Dip Zinc Rebound Seen Higher Gold Expected Industrial Gases Float Up Benzene Prices Flat-line Sugar Prices Have Soured Products Dock Levelers Square Washer Power Analyzer Lightpipes Clarified Tubes Small Switch Halide Lamps Lift Truck Speaking Out Procurement crossroads: Where you should be headed Trends Pitney Bowes balances sourcing of direct and indirect spend Whirpool's procurement takes the lead in outsourcing Posco discusses global alliance with Arcelor Mittal Novelis launches new solution center to drive innovation Is the bloom already off the ethanol rose? Buyers rate communication as most vital skill DuPont vows to phase out PFOA by 2015 CEOs talk more like CPOs on costs, contracts Business Intelligence-Average savings per sourcing event; Buyers that use the Internet to buy products and Average spend as a percent of revenue. Ameren turns a supply chain vision into a reality Purchasing seeks nominations for its All-Star MRO Buy team Counterfeit parts becoming a greater concern Purchasing execs on the move... Precious metals prices could see cyclical peaks this year UTC's Minority Business Exchange honors the efforts of its diverse suppliers JLG Industries employs Lean and Six Sigma for suppliers Your Turn Frustration, questions reign