Purchasing

Supplier relationship management: Pathways to convergence
At the heart of any good supplier-relationship management (SRM) process is a belief in exacting metrics, open communication and a laser-like focus on finding and nurturing suppliers who are willing and able to bring new technologies and other innovations that have a positive impact on the bottom line of both companies.

• Copper: more uses than just wire and cable
• Trucking update: Buyers see light at the end of the tunnel
• Institute for Supply Management annual conference preview
• Supplier management: Clarke American’s procurement transformation
• Chemicals buyers: Talk like a chemist
• Manufacturing gets in gear

Chemicals Edition Business Intelligence-polypropylene prices,  leadtime for sodium bicarbonate and caustic soda prices Chemforecast Propylene, polypropylene prices look to be less volatile Sodium bicarbonate market supports level pricing—for now Market Update Expiring patents, greater capacity influence pigments market Metals Business Intelligence-Percentage of buyers with too much steel and April cobalt price Chips Copper and Brass Products Volatile prices will cut copper demand from contractors, OEMs New Products Copper: more uses than just wire and cable

News and Departments Economy + Supply Items in Short Supply Economy + Supply Productivity Stumbles EU Wants Green Energy Cable Companies Combine Allegheny Expands Titanium Hybrid Sales Have Stalled Univar Buys Chemcentral More Fed Rate Cuts? Dip in World Growth Small Business is Bullish Housing Rebound Delayed Hyundai Sets Engine Plant Faster Reviews For Patents China Approves Intel Plant Leadtime Report Leadtime Report Titanium slightly easier to source Quick deliveries mark acetic acid Mechanical tubing may stabilize Logistics Shippers leverage air cargo as global sourcing extends supply Business Intelligence-Value of global air cargo market, Increase in air cargo from Hong Kong to the U.S.in 2006, and Percentage of cost that oil represents to average air cargo firm  Detours MRO + Distribution MRO purchasing pros listen up: Selling yourself internally is key Business Intelligence-Motion Industries' 2006 sales,Plumbing products added to Grainger line,NAPCP conference start date  MRO Briefs American Express takes leap to transform payment process My Turn Cut your own costs, not just suppliers' costs Prices Prices Sheet Steel is Higher Naphtha is in A Rut Uranium Tags Double Iron Ore May Rise TDI Prices Elevate EPS Hike Proposed Solvents Increases Sought Wholesale Prices Higher Copper Prices Stay High Base Metals Prices Tight Aluminum Slide Seen Crude to Stay High Coal Prices are Soft Distillates Drift Up Tire Prices Inflate Trends Tyco customizes its sourcing organization to fit business needs Business Intelligence-Buyers reporting commodity price increases in March, Buyers expecting energy rates to rise in the next quarter  ON Semiconductor leverages demand-driven model for improved execution Supplier awards American Express launches online marketplace for travel services Contract management tools to see strong growth Purchasing execs on the move