Purchasing articles from June 2003

Purchasing archives from June 2003

Keep an eye on leadtimes for machining services, castings and fabricated metal parts. (Tip Sheet).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Keep an eye on leadtimes for machining services, castings and fabricated metal parts. Leadtimes are extended compared to a year ago, and may go out further if producers face further financial difficulties. Contract manufacturers in the Midwest...

Look for continuing weakness in the U.S. dollar over the next 18 months. (Tip Sheet).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Look for continuing weakness in the U.S. dollar over the next 18 months, a move that could lend some support to higher pricing. Prices for most imported products should become automatically higher. In May, the dollar was at a four-year low...

Expect spot problems with rental car availability this summer. (Tip Sheet).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Expect spot problems with rental car availability this summer. The rental car giants have reduced fleet sizes by as much as 20% compared to last summer. Meanwhile, business and leisure travelers are shunning airplanes if possible. More...

Several semiconductor manufacturers are betting now on better business in 12 to 24 months. (Tip Sheet).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Several semiconductor manufacturers are betting now on better business in 12 to 24 months. Capital spending among the top 25 semiconductor companies will grow $31.9 billion this year, an improvement of 15% from last year, reports IC Insights....

Costs will be the major preoccupation of MRO buyers over the next few years. (Tip Sheet).
June 19, 2003... Costs will be the major preoccupation of MRO buyers over the next few years. Generally considered a low priority, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) items make up only 5-10% of most purchasing budgets. PURCHASING magazines book, MRO...

Manufacturing stays stuck in first gear.(business activity indexes)(Illustration)
June 19, 2003... Manufacturing stays stuck in first gear. Up Down Same Index Business Activity Indexes * National 37% 27% 32% 55.0 Northeast *** ...

Forward demand indicator. (Purchasing Magazine's).
June 19, 2003... "Strongish" purchasing plans for industrial materials reflects more hand-to-mouth buying than real demand growth. [GRAPH OMITTED]

Price expectations, 90-days. (Prices).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 19, 2003... Price expectations, 90-days COMMODITY DIFFUSION CATEGORY PERIOD UP DOWN SAME INDEX Copper & brass May 18% 9% 73% 54.4 Plastic resins May...

The slow pace of economic growth among Western industrialized nations will mean. (Prices).(copper price forecasts)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... The slow pace of economic growth among Western industrialized nations will mean "only moderately higher copper prices" through 2004, forecasts Scotia Bank economist Patricia Mohr. She puts cash copper prices around 80[cents] in 2004, up from an...

Analyst Gurinder Kalra at Bear Stearns sees "continued weak pricing power". (Prices).(semiconductor suppliers)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Analyst Gurinder Kalra at Bear Stearns sees "continued weak pricing power" for semiconductor suppliers because of a weak recovery in 2003 demand. "The good news for producers is that the worst average selling price declines for DRAM (dynamic...

Aluminum scrap continues to be in very short supply. (Prices).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Aluminum scrap continues to be in very short supply-- creating upward price pressure on secondary aluminum ingot--because of a strong export market. "To combat the shortage of scrap, U.S. secondary smelters have cut production," says Harvey...

Lumber producer Domtar of Montreal will stop timberland harvesting. (Prices).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Lumber producer Domtar of Montreal will stop timberland harvesting and sawmill operations in June for six months to tighten supply. "Difficult market conditions," that is reduced demand and oversupply in the North American market, have led to...

J.P. Morgan Securities analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas says U.S. chemical makers. (Prices).(weak demand, pricing predicted)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... J.P. Morgan Securities analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas says U.S. chemical makers will have to endure "weak demand and weak pricing" for commodity-oriented chemicals and plastic resins through 2004.

The Energy Information Administration expects U.S. light crude oil. (Prices).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... The Energy Information Administration expects U.S. light crude oil to remain close to its latest price ($29/barrel) through 2003 before easing back toward $24 by the end of 2004 when exports from Iraq return to the global market.

U.S. and Canadian economists and metals analysts have raised the projected annual average cash price for nickel. (Prices).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... U.S. and Canadian economists and metals analysts have raised the projected annual average cash price for nickel traded this year on the London Metal Exchange to $3.63/lb from $3.44/lb. LME nickel averaged $3.07/lb in 2002. Nickel prices have...

It took four months for January's modest ($35/net ton) market price increase for supercalendered uncoated ground-wood paper to stick. (Prices).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... It took four months for January's modest ($35/net ton) market price increase for supercalendered uncoated ground-wood paper to stick. There's no way of telling if, or when, the current $735 price will rise since another $30 hike has been...

"Deflation fears that have taken root are unfounded and misguided". (Economy).(Shadow Open Market Committee)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... "Deflation fears that have taken root are unfounded and misguided," according to the Shadow Open Market Committee (SOMC), a self-styled group of economists who meet biannually to review actions of the official Federal Open Market Committee...

Get ready for a 3%-plus economic growth rate in second-half 2003. (Economy).(according to National Association of Business Economists)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Get ready for a 3%-plus economic growth rate in second-half 2003, according to the latest outlook report from the National Association of Business Economists (NABE), and that's without accounting for the impact of a major tax cut bill from...

Mortgage refinancing activity is still going strong. (Economy).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Mortgage refinancing activity is still going strong and that's good news for homebuilders, manufacturers supplying the residential construction industry, and consumer goods manufacturers. With mortgage rates falling weekly to new record lows,...

Crystal Ball results. (Economy).(Wayne Balsiger of PACCAR Inc. wins Crystal Ball award)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Crystal Ball results. Wayne Balsiger, senior purchasing analyst and systems manager for PACCAR Inc. in Bellevue, Wash., has won a fifth PURCHASING magazine Crystal Ball economic forecasting contest. Second-place finisher in the 2002 contest is...

Tracking the economy. (Economy).(multiple economic indicators)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 19, 2003... Tracking the economy LATEST PREVIOUS YEAR % CHG VS. INDICATOR PERIOD PERIOD PERIOD AGO YEAR AGO Industrial production ('92=100) April 109.7 ...

Prices are stabilizing. (Electronics Transaction Prices).(electronic component prices, trends)
June 19, 2003... Electronic component prices continued to stabilize in May, indicating supply is slowly but steadily becoming more aligned with demand, according to PURCHASING magazine's monthly survey of prices and business conditions. Buyers responding...

Why buyers are in the driver's seat. (Inside Purchasing).(Column)
June 19, 2003... There's more opportunity today than ever before for procurement officers to deliver significant results. Tough times are forcing CEOs to focus less on top line results--revenue growth--and more on bottom line performance, which is increasingly...

Expect more price erosion for ML ceramic capacitors. (Passives).(multi-layer ceramic chip capacitor trends)
June 19, 2003... Multi-layer ceramic chip capacitor (MLCC) manufacturers face another uphill battle this year despite reports of growth opportunities from several consumer applications including next generation cell phones, digital cameras, DVD recorders and PC...

Outsourcing is part of Teradyne's strategic plan. (Purchasing Strategy).(Teradyne Connections Systems)
June 19, 2003... In some ways purchasers in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) business unit of Teradyne Connections Systems have the best of both worlds. They can use the leverage of a centralized sourcing group to locate suppliers of materials...

Dudley takes top spot at Dow. (Who's News).(Carol A. Dudley is new vice president of global purchasing at Dow Chemical Co.)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Carol A. Dudley has been named vice president of global purchasing at Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Mich. In this role, Dudley is responsible for a centralized corporate purchasing department that has an annual global buy in excess of $10...

Billington leaves HP. (Who's News).(Corey Billington joins 2nd Edison as president)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Corey Billington, vice president of global procurement services at Hewlett-Packard, will become president of 2nd Edison, a procurement services company based in Redwood City, Calif. In his new role, Billington will continue work on outsourcing...

Grimm steps up at Metaldyne. (Who's News).(Doug Grimm is appointed vice president, general manager)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Doug Grimm has been named vice president and general manager of Metaldyne's Precision Forming division. Previously, Grimm served as vice president of quality and supply chain management at Metaldyne, where he was responsible for the procurement...

Expect 10-15% price erosion for standard logic chips. (Semiconductors).
June 19, 2003... Overcapacity and weak demand caused by the decline of the telecommunications industry have battered the standard logic market over the last two years. The worldwide standard logic market fell from about $3 billion in 2000 to just $1.3...

Risk, title and Incoterms. (Murray's Law).(international contract law)(Column)
June 19, 2003... In domestic contracts for the sale of goods, that is, contracts between businesses in the U.S., the governing law is the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). The United Nations Convention on International Contracts for the Sale of Goods (CISC),...

Purchasing offers 24/7, online access to prime market data. (www.purchasingdata.com).(Business Intelligence Center is new tool for buyers, purchasing agents)
June 19, 2003... The purchasing and supply management professions have changed dramatically over the last five years and PURCHASING magazine is responding with a new tool called the Business Intelligence Center (BIC) at www.purchasingdata.com, which went live...

Data on PCs and software cuts costs in long run. (IT Asset Management).
June 19, 2003... As a purchasing manager, do you know what your company spends annually on software? How about PCs? If you can't answer these kinds of questions within a few minutes, then your company may need an IT asset management program. When asked to...

Resistor makers struggle to maintain flat growth. (Passives).
June 19, 2003... Beat down by severe price erosion, lots of competitors and weak demand over the past 18 months, resistor manufacturers will be happy to maintain flat growth in 2003. Over the next year, buyers can expect stable but still low prices for...

Supply woes lessen in weak manufacturing economy. (Grassroots Report).
June 19, 2003... Buyer grumbling about late deliveries of certain commodities continued in PURCHASING'S May Business Survey, but not as loudly as before; in fact, the number of complaints was down for the fifth straight month for a total 28% decline since...

What's hot. (Metals).(Steel pricing and related issues)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... My friend, Henry Cooke, writes: "I only just got around to reading the lengthy piece on steel pricing that you published a few weeks ago [PUR: May 1, 03; p. 29]. Fascinating stuff, as steel pricing always has a bit of the smoke and mirrors...

Weak demand delays attempted structural beam hikes. (Steel).
June 19, 2003... Domestic suppliers of wide-flange beams continue to press buyers for price increases to offset high energy and scrap costs, but demand for structural steel goods is down. First quarter supply is up, because of increased shipments from domestic...

Software predicts how steel beams buckle. (Steel).
June 19, 2003... A free computer program developed by a Johns Hopkins civil engineering researcher allows designers of such thin-walled structures as buildings and bridges to test their stability and safety before buyers source the steel beams. This modeling...

Antitrust detectives probe possible concentrate cartel. (Copper).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... Canadian, U.S. and European antitrust authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of price manipulation for copper concentrate, the intermediate product made by processing ore, which requires further refining into metal. ...

Construction slowdown weakens plate pricing. (Steel Plate).
June 19, 2003... Factory building won't show life until 2004, say industry mavens. Energy drilling demand is even further out. That coupled with tight inventory strategies is keeping a lid on tags Hand-to-mouth buying continues in the steel plate...

Manufacturing awaits a pickup. (Exclusive Business Data).
June 19, 2003... Springtime has become "a time of great uncertainty," according to Michael Moskow, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He says that despite optimism about the second half by economists, current data proves manufacturing "is in a...

Capture cost: despite challenges, buyers snare additional opportunities to save. (Nontraditional Purchasing).
June 19, 2003... Over the years, purchasing involvement in the services buy has continued to grow. Buyers at such companies as Kraft Foods, Microsoft, Intel and Brunswick have long worked with end use departments to determine requirements, select suppliers,...

Will growth bear profits? (Top 25 Semiconductor Companies).(Illustration)
June 19, 2003... Semiconductor buyers interested in knowing which suppliers will be successful in the future should take the advice of Deep Throat of Watergate notoriety and 'follow the money.' It's often said that it takes money to make money. That adage...

The top buyers speak: your future rests with your suppliers.
June 19, 2003... What are the common denominators of a great procurement and supply chain organization? We asked our Editorial Advisory Board at our annual spring meeting and a summary of the transcript is published on the next several pages. Some common...

Negotiation. your most powerful business tool: with over thirty years of experience, we know what issues business people face when negotiating.
June 19, 2003... Why take no for an answer? Successful people don't. They get what they want by negotiating better deals for both parties. Strengthen the skills that are key to success in business and in life. The strength of your agreements,...

Wait until next year for demand rebound in paper. (Paper).
June 19, 2003... Purchases of office papers have been slipping for more than three years now because of continued cutbacks in demand from slimmed-down offices and advertising agencies. Analysts expect the tonnage purchased to stay flat this year since paper...

Purchasing publishes new book on office technologies. (Office Technologies).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... PURCHASING magazine's newest book Sourcing Office Technologies provides readers with a look at ways smart buyers acquire office equipment (MFPs, copiers, facsimiles) and supplies. Stories show the importance of purchasing involvement in the...

What's hot. (Logistics).(Group of investors headed by CEO John Dasburg is negotiating to buy DHL Airways and )(Brief Article)
June 19, 2003... A group of investors headed by CEO John Dasburg is negotiating to buy DHL Airways and move its headquarters to Miami from the Chicago area. The proposed deal would free German delivery giant Deutsche Post of its 25% voting stake in DHL Airways....

Survey finds intermodal use, service levels on the rise. (Intermodal Study).
June 19, 2003... Use of intermodal shipping is on the rise among PURCHASING readers. According to a recent survey, respondents currently ship about 14% of materials via intermodal. But 75% of the those polled say they plan to increase their use of intermodal...

Stepping toward a new parcel shipping system. (Small Package).
June 19, 2003... Much of the logistics technology on the market today touts the benefits of planning and tracking larger trucking and ground shipments. But the small parcel market is rising on the software developer's radar screen and some new tools are leading...

Buyers tighten grip on fastener market. (Fasteners).(Industrial fasteners)
June 19, 2003... U. S. demand for industrial fasteners in 2002 was estimated at $3.8 billion, according to the Freedonia Group (Cleveland, Ohio). "As a result of the declines recorded in total demand in 2001 and 2002, supplies of most types of fasteners are...

Adaptors-single port serial to USB. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... Omega Engineering, Inc. www.omegacom One Omega Drive, Stamford, CT 06907 Phone: 800-826-6342 Fax: 302-359-7700 info@omega.com The OMG-USB-232-1 and OMG-USB-485-1 USB to serial I/O adaptors provide a single USB...

Adhesives, sealants and coatings. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... Master Band Inc. www.masterbond.com 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).
June 19, 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).
June 19, 2003... FBG Service Corporation www.fbgservice.com Are your profits being swept under the carpet? How much does it cost you to invoice multiple vendors? Let FBG's comprehensive facility management make your life simpler. Start saving money and...

Contract metal fabrication. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).(Diecasting Development Council's searchable database )(Brief Article)
June 19, 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...

Electronic components sourcing. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... netCOMPONENTS www.netcomponents.com netCOMPONENTS, launched in 1997, i nts in a direct, disclosed (non-anonymous), and vendor-neutral environment. netCOMPONENTS offers FREE membership for qualified OEMs and CEMs (check web site for...

Filters. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... The Filter Store Plus www.filterstore.com Phone: 800-828-1494 Fax: 585-624-1715 Single source supplier for all your filtration needs. We can supply, or cross, most major manufacturers of filters. We carry air intake,...

Freight cost containment. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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...

Hinges. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... Stocker Hinge Manufacturing Company, Inc. www.stocker.com info@stocker.com Stocker Hinge has been North America's leading designer and manufacturer of continuous, butt and specialty hinges for OEM's and Distributors since 1937....

Magnetic hand tools and conveyors. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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 3/8 inch thick. Offering CNC punching, stamping,...

Metal stampings, fabrications, enclosures. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... Triton Industries, Inc. www.tritonindustries.com 150-05-9000 Certified -- Automated prog. Die stampings, laser-cut prototypes, fabricated custom enclosures. Low -- medium & high volumes. Aluminum stamped heat sinks. Stainless steel,...

OEM products. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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...

Plating/metal finishing. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... TECHTRIX, INC. www.techtrix.com E-Mail: mail@techtrix.com PHONE (256) 543-2424 ISO 9002 We provide these quality finishes: * Cadium * Zinc * Silver * Tin * Nickel * Copper * Alodine ...

Plastics vacuum forming. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 2003... BEST! Corporate Stationery, Inc. www.bestblueribbon.com E-mail: more.info@bestblueribbon.com 1-800-815-6695 The Business Stationery Program * The First: On-line ordering since 1983 (established 1954) * The Finest:...

Recruiting/professional placement. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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/s female owned small business with an outstanding reputation for...

Stainless steel fittings & stainless steel machining. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).
June 19, 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...

Sodium bicarbonate. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).(Brief Article)
June 19, 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...

Tolling. (Key Supplier Web-Site Locator).(Brief Article)
June 19, 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...

Leadtime Index plunges. (Leadtimes).(Illustration)
June 19, 2003... PURCHASING's Leadtime Index (1992=100) has fallen dramatically over the past two months. From an eight-year high of 131.7 in March, the index, which tracks national average delivery speeds for more than 160 commonly used industrial products,...