Purchasing

Trucking Update: What goes around comes around
It's a buyers' market today for trucking, but the tables will turn and logistics buyers need to plan for the long haul. By David Hannon It's a buyers' market for trucking right now and that can be the worst possible thing for a logistics buyer. Why? Because what goes around comes around. During a buyers' logistics market, the tremendous temptation to focus solely on rates and re-bid truckload a...

• High energy prices boost buys of pipe and tube
• Nortel pushes the outsourcing envelope
• Suppliers follow a roadmap to Lean best practices
• International Supply Management Conference to convene in St. Louis
• Hedging is risky...Look before you leap
• How buyers survive the energy cost crunch
• The search for accurate electronic component price forecasts
• Chemical Buyers: Heed caution signs on road to e-sourcing

Electronics Edition Electronics Distribution OEM, EMS requirements of distributors differ Electronics Trends Analog-chip price curve to flatten as suppliers seek profitability Electronics Business Intelligence Electronic Briefs Connector prices should rise as cost of materials increases Computer shipments to rise nearly 13% in 2008 UMC, Elpida partner on foundry services Purchasing Strategy The search for accurate electronic component price forecasts Strategic Sourcing Nortel pushes the outsourcing envelope Metals Metals Business Intelligence Metals Chips Aluminum Aluminum: Even with reduced production, surplus will be large this year U.S. aluminum demand slipped last year and may continue sliding in 2008 Nichols Aluminum shuts Alabama sheet mill Construction about to start on new Iceland aluminum smelter Base Metals It takes more than a penny to make one Copper Copper prices around $4/lb as supplies tighten Lead and Zinc Lead and zinc: Global consumption outpaced demand in '07 Metalworking Precision Metalforming Association members expect business to be improved in the second half Molybdenum Molybdenum supply issues keep prices high; less byproduct output a problem Oil Country Tubulars High energy prices boost buys of pipe and tube Silver Silver production resumes at Sterling's Sunshine Mine Steel Steel buyers face record-high prices as imports slow to a halt Blast furnace outage cuts Severstal's steel production 35% U.S. steel structural exports increased in January China approves more mergers to continue industrial rationalization LME opens futures trading of steel futures contracts for billets Man of India is coming to Arkansas with steel pipe plant Titanium TAL to make floor beams for Boeing 787 Dreamliner

My Turn My Turn Money management becoming a critical skill News and Departments Black Belt Negotiators 'Deliver those connectors on time—or else' Chemicals Softer domestic, export demand could cap polyethylene prices Chemicals Business Intelligence Corporate Travel At Hewlett-Packard, procurement consolidates the meetings-management spend Buckle up: 2008 is going to be an interesting year Economy + Supply Economy + Supply Data OECD: No Growth for Q2 Steel Demand Still Strong IBM Inks Deal with Hitachi UCLA Report: No Recession Trucking Carriers May Struggle Taiwanese Invest $14 billion in Megaplant Startup Weyerhaeuser to Sell Unit to IP Olin Shuts Canadian Plant Port of New Orleans plans expansion China Expands Chem Capacity Arcelor Unloads Sparrows Point LSI Buys HDD Business Toshiba Plans New Fabs Discrete Chip Revenue Rises Logistics Logistics Business Intelligence Land Rover leverages RFID for streamlined logistics MRO + Distribution Graybar develops educational program with customers in mind MRO Business Intelligence MRO Briefs Grainger adds vendor-managed inventory services to line-up Office Indirect Business Intelligence Printing Goes Green Canon, Konica Minolta announce new multi-function and printing devices at AIIM/OnDemand Office Technology Spend control, security take center stage at AIIM/OnDemand show Prices Prices Prices for Small LCDs Increase Copper Prices to Stay High It's the Interest Rates, Stupid Corn Costs Hit Ethanol Michelin Ties Oil to Tires No Oil Price Relief in Sight More Pain at the Pump Coal Prices will Stay Up Zinc Prices will Climb Airlines Hedge more Jet Fuel Steel Price Hikes Hit Buyers Hard NAND Prices Fall CRU: Iron Ore prices will Drop in '09 Scale Up: Big Ideas in the Middle Market Three hats fit fine for Wingstop's top purchasing executive Speaking Out How to think about hedging Trends Novellus realizes benefits of early supplier involvement Procurement Business Intelligence Industrial gases buyers are concerned with supply, future higher prices Hewlett-Packard gets the most of its supplier feedback