Purchasing articles from January 2003

Purchasing archives from January 2003

Purchasing magazines.(Illustration)
January 16, 2003... ELECTRONICS BUSINESS INDICATOR LAST TWELVE MONTHS PURCHASING'S diffusion index tracking business activity among electronics-consuming companies has fallen in two of the last three months. Still, the percentage of electronics buyers...

Spot-market gold prices are up 22% in a ragged rally since the end of 2001. (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * Spot-market gold prices are up 22% in a ragged rally since the end of 2001, spurred by falling lending rates, fears of attacks by Islamic extremists, a growing list of political tensions, worries about higher oil prices and a weakening of the...

The semiconductor industry grew just 1.5% in 2002 to $155.3 billion. (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * The semiconductor industry grew just 1.5% in 2002 to $155.3 billion. There was an even split between companies that posted sales gains and companies that posted losses. One surprise was Samsung, which recorded a hefty 49% increase in sales in...

Think consumer electronics is small potatoes when it comes to semiconductor use? (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * Think consumer electronics is small potatoes when it comes to semiconductor use? Think again. Of six major industry segments, consumer electronics (CE) will drive the semiconductor the most in the next five years. CE semiconductor segment...

El Nino stands likely to affect weather--and business--by causing severe winter storms across the southern and eastern U.S. well into spring of 2003. (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * El Nino stands likely to affect weather--and business--by causing severe winter storms across the southern and eastern U.S. well into spring of 2003, forecasts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, NOAA also...

Oil cartel members will hike official production quotas by 6%. (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * Oil cartel members will hike official production quotas by 6%, to 23 million barrels/day from its former supply target of 21.7 million daily barrels. But that is unlikely to spur a wintertime rise in crude oil prices because of chronic...

Trucker fight. (Tip Sheet: Key Metrics and Supply Alert).(Mexican trucks and the environment)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... * Trucker fight. President Bush's approved plan to allow Mexican trucks onto U.S. highways beyond the currently enforced 20-mile commercial zone along the border is meeting with resistance from environmental, labor and trucking industry groups....

Price index gains, few fear inflation. (Transaction Prices).(Illustration)
January 16, 2003... PURCHASING magazine's Industrial Supplies Price Index (ISPI, 1992=100) rose to 120.3 in December, a 1.2% gain over November (118.9) and the highest the index has been since June 2001 (123.3). The December gain is attributable to rising costs...

Hot spots.(imports of reinforcing bars challenged)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... U.S. producers of concrete reinforcing bars say that the U.S. Trade Representative needs to run imports from Latvia and the Dominican Republic out of the U.S. marketplace because they are too high in volume and too cheap. Domestic market prices...

ODMs offer design expertise, quicker time to market. (Outsourcing).
January 16, 2003... The make/buy decision for electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is getting more complicated. In the past an OEM would decide whether it would be less costly for the company to outsource manufacturing of a product to an electronics...

Microsoft moves entire PC buy online, saves 6%. (Information Technology).
January 16, 2003... Improving the efficiency of its supply chain for personal computers has helped Microsoft to reduce purchasing costs by 6.5%. A little over a year ago, the procurement operation at Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., moved the process for its...

Velocity is prime mover in equipment maker's portal. (Best Practices in E-procurement).
January 16, 2003... Many e-procurement/e-sourcing systems emphasize straightforward cost reduction--either in the form of lower prices through auctions or lower overhead costs through catalog-based procurement systems. So it's refreshing to find Gloucester,...

Revenue from electronic manufacturing services (EMS) declined by 5% last year. (Electronics Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Revenue from electronic manufacturing services (EMS) declined by 5% last year, and 2003 won't be much better, suggests analyst Scott Hudson of iSuppli Corp. "Competitive pricing and slack demand from electronic original equipment manufacturing...

Global personal computer shipments, are forecast to attain 8.3% growth in 2003. (Electronics Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Global personal computer shipments, are forecast to attain 8.3% growth in 2003, after rising just 1% in 2002 to 136.2 million units in the second year of weak demand. Market researchers at DC expect purchasing improvements from the business and...

Early autumn spot-market price increases of 6cents/lb. (Electronics Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Early autumn spot-market price increases of 6Cents/lb on most standard injection molding and extrusion grades of polycarbonate (PC) were eroded to 3Cents by year's end, according to buyers and other market sources. Reason: Erratic demand from...

Flash memory sales prices are up and will rise steadily--by as much as 20%--in 2003. (Electronics Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Flash memory sales prices are up and will rise steadily--by as much as 20%--in 2003, says a new report from In-Stat/MDR in Scottsdale, Ariz. The high-tech market research house says world flash memory unit shipments "have experienced several...

Waiting for the next tech boom. (Electronics & Technology News).(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... PURCHASING'S Business Activity Index for electronics-consuming companies was down again in December. At 51.5, the index remained just barely in the growth-signaling zone. Among the 35% of electronics buyers reporting increasing sales, only...

Price alert.(goods from Europe more costly)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Domestic component prices do not seem to have been a big issue for electronics buyers in December, but buyers do report escalating costs, especially for freight and components sourced in Europe where currencies strengthened versus the U.S....

What's hot.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... The importance of secondary aluminum can't be understated when considering the supply and demand dynamics of the aluminum market, according to long-time metals maven Charles Bradford at Bradford Research, New York. He points out that...

Still not enough supply reductions to boost prices. (Steel Bars).
January 16, 2003... Mill shutdowns, consolidations and import tariffs have reduced domestic capacity of carbon steel hot-rolled bar, but not enough to disrupt the buyers' market by tightening supply or propelling prices higher. Leadtimes, which closed 2002 at two...

Buyers glum about new year. (Metals).(metalworking)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Metalworking closed 2002 on a sour note and positioned metals buyers to source less spot material through the first quarter. PURCHASING magazine's year-ending Business Survey reported the metalworking's Business Activity Index--a reading on...

Hot spots.(Kobe Steel and Wieland Werke plan to merge U.S. operations)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Copper tube supply update: Kobe Steel of Japan and Wieland Werke of Germany plan to merge their U.S. copper tube-making operations into a 50-50 joint venture. A new (yet-to-be-named) company will manage Kobe Copper Products in Pine Hall, N.C.,...

Consolidation isn't affecting supply. (Steel Mini-Mills).
January 16, 2003... News Bulletin: The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust unit clears mini-mill giant Nucor Corp. to acquire fellow mini-mill operator Birmingham Steel Corp. for $615-million in cash. The Nucor/Birmingham Steel shotgun wedding is just the...

Prices still falling. (Electronics Transaction Prices).(Illustration)
January 16, 2003... Electronic component manufacturers and distributors expect prices to increase in 2003 as demand picks up. However, in December, tags were still falling due to overcapacity and lessthan stellar demand in the fourth quarter, which usually is a...

Price alert.(Flash memory tags)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2003... Keep close tabs on flash memory tags. Intel announced price increases for some parts in December, but it remains to seen if the price hikes will stick. Flash is being used in more devices, but so far capacity can meet demand. As flash gets...

How we see 2003 economy & prices: another round of inventory replenishment will boost economic growth rates in 2003. (Top 100 Markets).
January 16, 2003... There's no refuting the fact that economic growth prospects dropped dramatically in the latter months of 2002. Factory output fell as automaking swooned in the aftermath of one of the industry's biggest fire sales ever. Consumer confidence...

Rising demand for color perks up flat copier sales. (Copiers).
January 16, 2003... One bright spot on the copier landscape: Growing buyer demand for color. Shipments of single-function digital copiers have been flat for some time and while manufacturers assert that the machines are here to stay, forecasts don't show much...

Freight buyers elect industry-specific tools to buy online. (Buying Transportation Online).
January 16, 2003... It's no secret that putting a transportation spend online is different than putting a commodity spend online. With a complex matrix of freight lanes, modes, and countless different options for a mix of carriers and service levels, a company's...

Adhesives, sealants and coatings. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Master Band Inc. www.masterbond.cam Master Bond Inc. manufacturers over 3,000 grades of adhesives, sealants, coatings, potting compounds and impregnation resins. Products include epoxies, anaerobics, cyanoacrylates, silicones and...

Aluminum. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Yarde Metals www.yarde.com Multi-metal distributors, featuring complete processing of sheet and plate, bar, tubes, angles and extruded products. Visit our website for a complete listing of our stocked inventory.

Building maintenance. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... FBG Service Corporation www.fbgservices.com ISO 9002 Registered. Consolidate your building services (janitorial, HVAC, pest, lawn, etc.) in one convenient, affordable package. One site or nation-wide. Professional management, help...

Clamps & components. (Key Suppliers Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Carr Lane Mfg. Co. www.carrlane.com Hundreds of thousands of clamps and components for metalworking and woodworking. Carr Lane's 600-page catalog has become the industry standard reference, with sections on tooling components, toggle...

CNC and screw machine products. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Jessen Manufacturing Co., Inc. www.jessenmfg.com Founded in 1923, we utilize in-house tool making and world class manufacturing techniques to provide just-in-time delivery of quality screw machine products and CNC precision machine...

Compact controller. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Omega Engineering, Inc. www.omega.com One Omega Drive, Stamford, CT 06907 Phone: 800-826-6342 Fax: 302-359-7700 info@omega.com The OMEGA[R] iSeries, a family of microprocessor-based instruments offered in two true...

Contract metal fabrication. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
January 16, 2003... Magni-Fab Southwest Company www.magni-fabsouthwestcompany.com Magni-Fab Southwest Co. is a contract metal fabricator and stamper. Processing steel, aluminum, and stainless steel through 1/2 inch thick. Offering CNC punching, forming,...

Die casting. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Diecasting Development Council www.diecasting.org/ddc The Diecasting Development Council's searchable database of custom die casters details alloys cast, part size and weight ranges. The site also lists die casting industry suppliers...

Filters. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... The Filter Store Plus www.filterstore.com Single source supplier for all your filtration needs. We can supply, or cross, most major manufacturers of filters. We carry air intake, compressed air & gas, hydraulic, liquid, and all types...

Electronic components sourcing. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... netCOMPONENTS www.netcomponents.com netCOMPONENTS, launched in 1997, is the worlds largest destination for sourcing and procurement of electronic components in a direct, disclosed (non-anonymous), and vendor-neutral environment....

Freight cost containment. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Spectrum Transportation Consultants, Inc. www.spectrumtrans.com Learn how our group purchasing power will reduce your freight costs while targeting areas for improving your supply chain. Our no-cost analysis will benchmark your current...

Industrial fasteners. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Earnest Machine Products www.earnestmachine.com 800-EARNEST (327-6378) FAX: 216/362-9970 Earnest Machine is a wholesale distributor of over 35,000 industrial fasteners serving distributors and original equipment...

Magnetic hand tools and conveyors. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Magni-Power Company / Magnetic Division www.magnipower.com Order on-line over 130 magnetic hand tools, separators, sweepers, and other magnetic products. In business since 1948 helping manufacturers with their magnetic and conveyor...

Metal fabrications and assemblies. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Magni-Power Company www.magnipower.com E-mail: info@magnipower.com Magni-Power company is a full service metal fabricator. Processing steel, aluminum, and stainless steel through 318 inch thick. Offering CNC punching, stamping,...

Metal stampings, fabrications, enclosures. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Triton Industries, Inc. www.tritonindustries.com ISO-QS-9000 Certified -- Automated prog. Die stampings, laser-cut prototypes, fabricated custom enclosures. Low -- medium & high volumes. Aluminum stamped heat sinks. Stainless steel,...

OEM products. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... GLOBEX Product Sourcing www.gbx.com E-Mail: info@gbx.com Phone: 1-888-445-6239 GLOBEX provides custom-manufactured, made-to-specification parts for OEM/ODM clients. All services are provided . . . from product design, on-site...

Plastics vacuum forming. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Plasto-Tech Corporation www.plasto-tech.com Plasto-Tech Corporation specializes in vacuum forming plastics for returnable trays, dunnage, and plastic skids. Equipment to form 120 inches by 80 inches by 24 inches deep. CNC routing, die...

Printing. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... BEST! Corporate Stationery, Inc. www.bestblueribbon.com E-mail: moreinfo@bestblueribbon.com 1-800-815-6695 The Business Stationery Program * The First: On-line ordering since 1983 (established 1954) * The Finest:...

Recruiting/professional placement. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Tonia Deal Consultants, Inc. www.toniadealconsultants.com TDC, Inc. specializes in technical and executive placement, focusing in Supply Chain Management. We are a 1000/0 female owned small business with an outstanding reputation for...

Sodium bicarbonate. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Church & Dwight Co., Inc. www.ahperformance.com Church & Dwight is the manufacturer of ARM & HAMMER[R] brand sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate and a worldwide leader in the development of innovative...

Stainless steel fittings & stainless steel machining. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... QMC Technologies, Inc. www. qmctechnologies.com E-mail: rapidquote@qmctechnologies.com 4142 Broadway, Depew, NY 14043 (Since 1976) 1-800-569-0810 FAX: (716) 681-0881 QMC manufactures custom OEM Stainless Steel...

Stainless steel threaded fittings. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... buyfittingsonline.com www.buyfittingsonline.com E-mail: rapidquote@buyfittingsonline.com 1-800-569-0810 FAX: (716) 681-0881 Visit our fully enabled E-commerce site for the easiest way to buy premium quality Stainless NPT...

Tolling. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... Tolling Services, LLC www.tolling.com Excess manufacturing capacity. Tolling Services provides the only E-Commerce platform that enables profitable manufacturers and their customers to confidentially form private joint ventures...

Transportation. (Marketplace).
January 16, 2003... USFreightways www.usfo.com 773-824-1000 USFreightways (NASDAQ: USFC) provides comprehensive supply chain services, including high-value next day (www.nextdaydelivery.com), regional and national less-than-truckload (LTL) and...

Negotiation. Your most powerful business tool.
January 16, 2003... With over thirty years of experience, we know what issues business people face when negotiating. Why take no for an answer? Successful people don't. They get what they want by negotiating better deals for both parties. Strengthen the...