Purchasing articles from June 2004

Purchasing archives from June 2004

Purchasingdata.com's forward demand indicator 90-day.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Illustration)
June 3, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Stronger durable goods orders are energizing purchasing, even though the prices are much higher. [down arrow] 0.7 Manufacturing expansion wobbles Up Down Same Index...

With elections approaching, public debate is focused on lost jobs, shuttered factories and Chinese and Indian competition.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... With elections approaching, public debate is focused on lost jobs, shuttered factories and Chinese and Indian competition. Lawmakers who backed a free-trade agenda during the Clinton and Bush years now must decide whether to abandon their...

The decline in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. shows no sign of slowing.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The decline in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. shows no sign of slowing, according to a study by the Conference Board, a New York-based business and research group. Interestingly, the decline is not solely the result of outsourcing to developing...

Goodyear Tire & Rubber is suing a dozen chemical companies in the U.S. and Europe.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Goodyear Tire & Rubber is suing a dozen chemical companies in the U.S. and Europe, saying they formed an international cartel to fix the price of rubber chemicals for at least eight years through 2002. Several of the rubber chemical suppliers...

Several chlor-alkali producers have announced $50 to $60 price increases for caustic soda.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Several chlor-alkali producers have announced $50 to $60 price increases for caustic soda. The moves had been widely anticipated in light of shrinking inventories and a rebound in demand from the pulp and paper sector. The increase reverses a...

Purchasingdata.com's leadtime index, all commodities.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 3, 2004... Monthly, weighted, 1992 = 100 [down arrow] 0.4 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] For the 12 months ending May 2004, PURCHASING's LEADTIME Index (1992=100) averaged 10.4% higher than the corresponding 12-month period a year earlier. Tracking...

Don't expect the nervous and vociferous clamor on Wall Street to push the Federal Reserve.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Don't expect the nervous and vociferous clamor on Wall Street to push the Federal Reserve into actively combating inflation. Industrial commodity prices are high, crude oil is at nosebleed levels, and the benchmark consumer price index surged...

Economic growth is accelerating throughout the major industrial nations.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Economic growth is accelerating throughout the major industrial nations, says the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In its twice-yearly Economic Outlook, the Paris-based OECD raised its combined growth forecast for its 30...

The rise in global commodity prices may have peaked.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The rise in global commodity prices may have peaked, suggest the economic statisticians at Merrill Lynch. The Baltic Freight Index, a widely followed indicator of shipping rates and a harbinger of global commodity price trends, is down sharply...

Labor costs appear to be well under control.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Labor costs appear to be well under control. The accelerating trend toward outsourcing blue-collar and white-collar jobs to low-cost, high-skill workers in developing nations like India, China, and Malaysia is keeping a lid on skilled worker...

Car buyers are becoming more concerned with fuel economy.(Economy: how supply managers see business)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Car buyers are becoming more concerned with fuel economy in the face of rising gas prices. Evidence: Prices for large sport/utility vehicles and pickup trucks fell 1.5% in April while prices for smaller cars rose 2.3%. "Although we have yet to...

Purchasingdata.com's 30-day steel buying plans.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 3, 2004... (Diffusion index, less than 50 = falling, more than 50 = rising) [up arrow] 1.2 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Buyers indicate steel ordering has picked up to support expanded metalworking activity Forward demand, 30-days COMMODITY...

International Steel Group plans to restart operations in the third quarter at Georgetown Steel.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... International Steel Group plans to restart operations in the third quarter at Georgetown Steel, the South Carolina manufacturer of high-carbon steel wire rod products that ceased production in October, 2003. The plant has annual mini-mill...

Companies that postponed purchases of new technology are now buying new computers and software.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Companies that postponed purchases of new technology are now buying new computers and software. That's why Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wachovia Bank, expects software and computer sales to increase 20% this year.

Standard & Poor's suggests that trucking companies will see a continued increase in operating income.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Standard & Poor's suggests that trucking companies will see a continued increase in operating income as the year progresses. S&P credit analyst Kenneth Farer, says "the additional improvements are expected as freight volumes and rates increase...

CS First Boston analyst Christopher Ceraso has cut his 2004 production forecast for North American light vehicles.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... CS First Boston analyst Christopher Ceraso has cut his 2004 production forecast for North American light vehicles to 16.2 million from 16.5 million, due to "stubbornly high" inventories. Motor vehicle sales in April were at a seasonally...

U.S. demand for plastic lumber and wood-plastic composite could expand by as much as 12% per year to $3.1 billion by 2008.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... U.S. demand for plastic lumber and wood-plastic composite could expand by as much as 12% per year to $3.1 billion by 2008, projects industrial market researcher Freedonia Group. Increased market penetration for these alternative building...

Century Aluminum is buying Nordural, a primary aluminum producer in Iceland.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Century Aluminum is buying Nordural, a primary aluminum producer in Iceland that owns a 90,000 metric ton/year plant. Century plans to double its capacity to 180,000 metric tons annually by 2006.

Potash supply is tight and inventories are low because of surging demand.(Supply: what's happening in markets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Potash supply is tight and inventories are low because of surging demand in North America, China and Brazil, says Don Carson, analyst at Merrill Lynch. So, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, the world's largest producer, plans to boost mine output...

Purchasingdata.com's 90-day magnet wire price expectations.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 3, 2004... (Diffusions index, less than 50 = falling, more than 50 = rising) [down arrow] 1.2 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Despite this slight pause, rising copper costs will prop an upward price trend. Price expectations, 90-days COMMODITY...

Flying between the coasts now is the best bargain in the skies.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Flying between the coasts now is the best bargain in the skies. Prices are tumbling on coast-to-coast flights, due to a brutal fare war between discount airlines and the old-line big-carriers. Reason: The low-cost airlines, using planes that...

Personal computer prices industrywide fell by 9% during the first three quarters of 2003.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Personal computer prices industrywide fell by 9% during the first three quarters of 2003, compared with 4.5% a year earlier. Laptop prices fell even faster. Actually, the computer industry's central dynamic is falling prices. Most PCs are...

The Energy Information Administration says regular retail-gasoline prices are expected to peak in June at $2.23 a gallon.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The Energy Information Administration says regular retail-gasoline prices are expected to peak in June at $2.23 a gallon, up substantially from the $1.82 peak price projected earlier. Reason: The price of crude oil settled above $41/barrel in...

Eastman Chemical has announced a price increase of 4 cents/lb on all unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Eastman Chemical has announced a price increase of 4 cents/lb on all unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins used in reinforced composites and casting manufacturing. These customized products are formulated for a variety of markets,...

Air Products is raising prices of certain electronic specialty materials in North America.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Air Products is raising prices of certain electronic specialty materials in North America to compensate for the higher costs of making them. The Allentown, Pa.-based industrial gas provider and chemical maker also is planning to modify certain...

U.S. manufacturing companies have been able to push through to customers just 13% of the higher commodity price rises they're paying.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... U.S. manufacturing companies have been able to push through to customers just 13% of the higher commodity price rises they're paying, according to calculations by economists at Merrill Lynch. That compares to an average 30% pass through to...

Spot prices for alumina have eased from their recent high.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Spot prices for alumina have eased from their recent high of close to $500/metric ton after losing trader support because of the sharp downward correction in primary aluminum on the London Metal Exchange in recent weeks.

Web highlights.(Purchasing Online)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Freight rates are spinning out of control through the first half of 2004 for most shippers. Trucking rates are up domestically due to fuel increases; the China boom has pushed ocean freight rates way up; and rail shippers continue to crave...

Manage risk in your supply chains.(inside purchasing)
June 3, 2004... Now is the right time to make sure you have a supply chain risk management policy in place. Only about half of the purchasing professionals we surveyed recently say they regularly monitor supply chain risk (see story on page 13). That could get...

Poor risk management threatens supply chain.(Purchasing Survey)
June 3, 2004... As many supply managers see it, risk is fast becoming the weak link in their supply chains. Global events such as terrorist strikes, political instability in developing economies, the 2002 shutdown of West Coast docks, and the 2004 explosion in...

GSK closes the loop using e-sourcing tools.(Case Study)(Glaxo SmithKline)
June 3, 2004... The pharmaceutical industry is misunderstood, says Gregg Brandyberry, vice president of procurement, global systems and operations at Glaxo SmithKline. He says the industry has the reputation of being up to its eyeballs in cash ready for...

Richter scholarship recipients named.(Buylines: strategic sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The first recipients of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program were announced at the opening dinner for the Achieving Procurement Excellence conference, organized by the R. Gene and Nancy D. Richter Foundation. The scholarships were...

What's hot.(metals)(steel mill products )(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Its 1974 all over again for contractors. The recent "unprecedented and unpredicted Increase" in the cost of steel mill products leas resulted in a "rapid and capricious rise" in the price of all fabricated steel materials used in construction,...

Buyers and contractors struggle to survive in 'abnormal' year.(Steel Beams)
June 3, 2004... This was supposed to be a "big recovery" year for purchasing of steel beams and other structurals. But the unprecedented eruption in structural steel prices has slowed planned activity by building contractors involved in both private and public...

Will Beijing's economic adjustments cut short the bull market in commodity prices?(Metals Flash Report)
June 3, 2004... Metal commodity prices have reversed a decade-long downward trend, due to insufficient global supply, renewed global growth and the surge in demand from China, the world's fastest-growing economy. However, China's economic growth has been too...

Higher prices making Wall Street, Main Street shudder.(Grassroots Report)
June 3, 2004... Higher prices for everything from gasoline and groceries to freight rates and industrial commodities have left little doubt on Wall Street and Main Street that inflation is on its way back. "The general economy obviously is moving up," says a...

Version *.*: latest sourcing software releases.(Buylines: strategies sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... SAP launched its latest version of mySAP Supply Chain Management, which introduces a new responsive replenishment scenario and RFID-enabled supply chain execution processes, to help enterprises gain better visibility into real-time customer...

SciQuest to be bought, become private firm.(Buylines: strategies sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Sourcing software provider SciQuest has agreed to be acquired by Trinity Ventures for $25.2 million. SciQuest, which provides sourcing software for pharmaceutical and laboratory supplies, will become a private company. It was previously listed...

Schering-Plough.(Who's News)(appointment as senior vice president)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Ian McInnes has recently been named senior vice president, global supply chain at pharmaceutical firm Schering-Plough. McInnes comes to the firm from his post as executive vice president, supply chain at Watson Laboratories. Prior to this...

David Thursfield.(Who's News)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... David Thursfield, Ford Motor Co.'s executive vice president and president, international operations and global purchasing, retired May 1 after two years in the post and 25 years with the company. He was previously head of Ford Europe....

Ahold.(Who's News)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Dutch retailer Ahold recently announced it would focus more on procurement this year than in the past. As a first step, the company appointed Garry Brown, a consultant and specialist in restructuring troubled businesses, as senior vice...

California Micro Devices .(Who's News)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The board of directors at electronics firm California Micro Devices has elected Manuel (Manny) H. Mere, vice president, supply chain management, and made him an officer of the company. Mere has been in his current position for two years and...

Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Norden Systems.(Who's News)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Chineta K. Davis has been promoted to vice president at Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Norden Systems business from her position of director of strategic sourcing in the Procurement and Material Management organization at the company. In her new...

Pop quiz.(Murray's law)(contracts)
June 3, 2004... Time for a pop quiz on the legal aspects of contracts, so take out your pencil and keep your eyes on your own paper. Consider the following: Bill Green is the purchasing manager for Consolidated Industries, Inc. of Austin, Texas, a manufacturer...

Wondering if your manufacturing is as lean as it could be?(Buylines: strategies sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Wondering if your manufacturing is as lean as it could be? Want to show your customers, suppliers or CFO that you re running the supply chain efficiently? A new certification from a Massachusetts-based consultancy will provide the stamp of...

Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain?(Buylines: strategies sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Allied Motion Technologies)(DuPont)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... DuPont has set a goal to reduce fixed costs by $700 million in 2005, with $375 million of that coming by reducing external spending in areas such as contract services, supplies procurement, telecommunications and information technology...

Penske Logistics is getting high praise from the automotive industry these days.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Penske Logistics is getting high praise from the automotive industry these days. First, the company was named 2003 Supplier of the Year by General Motors. "Penske Logistics is representative of the type of company we want to grow with as we...

Chrysler Group is honoring two suppliers and three employees for their efforts in diversity supplier development.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Chrysler Group is honoring two suppliers and three employees for their efforts in diversity supplier development. Shipping giant United Parcel Service was recognized as Chrysler Group's Supplier of the Year for almost doubling Chrysler's goal...

Lockheed Martin has agreed to "mentor" Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, a small woman-owned business, in the development of an imaging sensor system product line.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Lockheed Martin has agreed to "mentor" Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, a small woman-owned business, in the development of an imaging sensor system product line. The agreement is part of a U.S. Department of Defense initiative that...

Delta Air Lines recently recognized several business partners and employees for excellence in supplier and sourcing leadership.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Delta Air Lines recently recognized several business partners and employees for excellence in supplier and sourcing leadership. Jet Parts Engineering was honored as Small Business of the Year for its consistent track record in providing on-time...

PPG Industries recently bestowed its Excellent Supplier Award on J.B. Hunt Transport Services' Dedicated Contract Services operating segment.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... PPG Industries recently bestowed its Excellent Supplier Award on J.B. Hunt Transport Services' Dedicated Contract Services operating segment, which participated in PPG's Supplier Added Value Effort program to reduce expenses and improve...

Contract manufacturing firm Pemstar recently received its second Supplier Performance Award from network solutions provider Ciena Corp.(Kudos)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Contract manufacturing firm Pemstar recently received its second Supplier Performance Award from network solutions provider Ciena Corp. Criteria for the award include flexibility and responsiveness, quality, teamwork and customer service as...

Sourcing harnesses entrepreneurial spirit: working within its culture, Biogen Idec creates a purchasing operation that saves more than $30 million.(buying for biotech)
June 3, 2004... Last November, Biogen and Idec Pharmaceuticals merged to form the third largest biotechnology company in the world, Biogen Idec. Having successfully developed new drugs to treat multiple sclerosis and some cancers-and with others in the...

Purchasing molds more powerful tools: card providers enhance their products in response to buyer demand.(p-cards)
June 3, 2004... Purchasing operations are taking a new look at purchasing cards. For the past 20 years or so, buyers have used purchasing cards as a payment tool for low dollar indirect goods and services, i.e., mainly some repair and operations (MRO) items...

Solutions start with design: it takes virtually an Act of Congress to correct problems once products move into production.(supply chain complexity)(Interview)
June 3, 2004... The collapse of the economy in 2000 uncovered many ugly spots in American supply chains, particularly those serving the telecommunications and electronics sectors. One of the most notable examples was Lucent Technologies. Devastated by the...

CSI on the design team.(Sourcing Strategies)(continuous supplier involvement)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 3, 2004... Editor's Note: Suppliers are your most important allies in attacking supply chain complexity. In this column, PURCHASING'$ Editorial Director Emeritus explains the advantages of working with suppliers from the outset of a new product...

How to improve the energy buy: hedging with energy futures, aggregating usage across multiple plant sites and screening potential suppliers carefully can help in an uncertain market.(energy)
June 3, 2004... High on the wish list of just about every chemical industry manager today is finding a way to cope with the roller coaster gyrations of energy prices. Energy price volatility, particularly of natural gas and electricity generated from natural...

What's hot.(MRO/distribution news)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... In the May 6 issue of PURCHASING. Jim Morgan, editorial director emeritus, writes about the changing relationship between buyers and sellers for the magazine's annual look at the distribution industry. In it, he writes about purchasing's...

Grainger eases access to products for MRO buyers.(Distribution)(W.W. Grainger Inc.)(Maintenance, Repairs, Operating)
June 3, 2004... Speaking before analysts in New York recently, Grainger Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Keyser likened recent initiatives undertaken by the distributor of MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) goods and services to having...

MRO Buyers Group holds 7th annual conference.(MRO/distribution news)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... The MRO Buyers Group of the Institute for Supply Management is holding its 7th annual conference at the JW Marriott Resort in Las Vegas on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2004. A conference brochure and registration information are available for...

MRO inventory.(Management Tips)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... Maintaining an efficient inventory management strategy can help improve and ensure the success of plant maintenance operation. "The effort and sophistication needed for a successful inventory strategy should be balanced with the size,...

What's hot.(logistics)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2004... "Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten." --B.F. Skinner The trucking industry hauled over nine billion tons of freight in 2003, or 68.9% of all freight tonnage transported in the U.S., according to...

Chemicals firms seek special attention from 3PL providers.(Logistics Outsourcing)(third party logistics)
June 3, 2004... Surveys and industry studies show outsourcing of logistics is increasing in virtually all manufacturing industries, as cost-conscious shippers seek value-adds and cost-reduction opportunities from third-party logistics (3PL) providers. But the...

Make sure you ask the experts for cost-cutting tips.(Packaging)
June 3, 2004... Buyers are under significant pressure to reduce costs and one of the best places to start is packaging. It's ubiquitous, its critical, and can often be purchased much more efficiently. Most importantly, look for suppliers that will work...

New products, steel shortages, China's role, roil the market.(Fasteners)
June 3, 2004... Ask about new products and services available from the fastener industry and most manufacturers and distributors spend little or no time responding to the question. Instead, they want to discuss the topic on everyone's mind in the industry--the...

Key supplier Web-site locator.
June 3, 2004... ADHESIVES, SEALANTS AND COATINGS Master Bond Inc. www.masterbond.com Master Bond Inc. manufacturers over 3,000 grades of adhesives, sealants, coatings, potting compounds and impregnation resins. Products include epoxies,...

Considerations in evaluating an international procurement office (IPO) site: first in a series.(Global Outsourcing)
June 3, 2004... For many companies considering the creation of an international procurement office (IPO), developing the evaluation criteria is challenging and confusing at best. Understanding the various evaluation factors for international sites in regards...

Purchasingdata.coms's electronics business indicator.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)
June 17, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Buyers see steady, if not explosive, business conditions. Electronics Business Indicator dipped one point in May as growth moderated for the moment. Buyers fret about inventories, prices Electronics-consuming...

Purchasing of connectors is recovering.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * Purchasing of connectors is recovering. Sales for the first quarter were up 28.2% over the first quarter of 2003. Then, in April, the connector industry's book-to-bill ratio was 1.02, marking the 10th consecutive month the ratio was above...

Good news for semiconductor buyers: the top 25 chip companies will increase capital spending.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * Good news for semiconductor buyers: The top 25 chip companies will increase capital spending by 52% to $35.8 billion in 2004. That's the forecast from market researcher IC Insights, which notes that capital spending only increased 10% in...

China's electronics manufacturing shows no signs of letting up.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * China's electronics manufacturing shows no signs of letting up. China's production of electronic equipment will increase from $143.4 billion in 2002 to $270 billion, a compound annual growth of 13.5%, according to analysts at iSuppli.

Keep an eye on supplier delivery performance.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * Keep an eye on supplier delivery performance. The percentage of buyers reporting more problems with deliveries rose to 33 in May from 29 in April, according to www.purchasingdata.com. Real estate sources report that many industrial companies...

Sun Microsystems is searching for ways to defend itself against trends.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * Sun Microsystems is searching for ways to defend itself against trends like the shift by corporations toward open source software and low-cost server computers. For instance, to guard itself from pricing competition from rivals like Dell, Sun...

Industry analysts aren't surprised by Sony's announcement that it will halt production.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... * Industry analysts aren't surprised by Sony's announcement that it will halt production of all Clie handheld devices in the U.S., citing increasing competition from smart phones and other products. "The handheld market in the U.S. is declining...

Purchasingdata.com's mosfet chips 30-day price expectations.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 17, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Inflation seen for "metal oxide semiconductor, field effect transistor" power chips. Demand from makers of automotive amplifiers and speakers is tightening supply. Electronics buyers' 30-day price expectations ...

Intel has cut the prices of its Centrino mobile technology platform.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Intel has cut the prices of its Centrino mobile technology platform--a mobile processor, chipset, and wireless card--between 11% and 26%. The company reduced the price of the 1.7-gigahertz chips with the 855GM and PM chipsets from $496 to $366....

Expect standard logic prices to rise about 3%-4% by the end of the year.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Expect standard logic prices to rise about 3%-4% by the end of the year. Reason: Purchasing has more than doubled from this time last year. Demand is expected to get even stronger in the third and fourth quarters. In addition, suppliers are...

Look for continued downward price pressure on static random access memory (SRAM) chips.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Look for continued downward price pressure on static random access memory (SRAM) chips, as manufacturers compete for business. Supply is steady and demand for discrete SRAMs is waning since more functionality is being embedded on...

Watch for slippage of 2%-3% on pricetags for multi-layer ceramic capacitors by year's end.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Watch for slippage of 2%-3% on pricetags for multi-layer ceramic capacitors by year's end. Despite strong demand, there is plenty of capacity. In addition, the cellular telephone industry is a big consumer of ceramic capacitors. Since most...

Expect connector companies to try to raise prices soon.(Prices: dactors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Expect connector companies to try to raise prices soon. Last year, connector prices fell an average 7%. But connector manufacturers are seeing increased material costs, especially for precious metals used in plating.

The price of gold could rise as high as $800/oz or even $1000/oz.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... The price of gold could rise as high as $800/oz or even $1000/oz, "given current international developments," suggests strategist Craig Zaayman at ABSA Corporate & Merchant Bank in Johannesburg. This view is more bullish than that of other...

Learn bow 39 companies are using e-sourcing tools.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... Learn bow 39 companies are using e-sourcing tools to save money in "What E-Sourcing Means to You." The book of case histories is available at the bookstore at www.purchasing.com. Price is $41 plus shipping and handling.

Purchasingdata.com's electronics forward demand indicator.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Illustration)
June 17, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Electronics buyers now expect business to keep turning up through summer. The Forward Demand Indicator rose in May to its second-highest level of 2004, indicating strength in purchase orders. Tracking the high-tech...

U.S. factories cranked up output in May.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2004... U.S. factories cranked up output in May, goings-on supported by two key manufacturing indexes: PURCHASING magazine's business activity index in May was 73.4 and Institute for Supply Management's index was 62.8. An index reading above 50...