As many of you know, the Category Managers who contribute to Supply Excellence also create a quarterly report called SupplyWatch. The Q1 issue is up and includes detailed category breakdowns for…

Metals
Plastics, Rubber & Raw Materials
Transportation
Electronics, Electrical & IT Hardware
Paper & Packaging
Services & Capital Goods, Construction & Engineering

In addition, there is a feature article on Cutting [...]

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I can’t help but be amused at President Barack Obama’s heralded plan to overhaul federal purchasing rules. Not that I don’t applaud attempts to cut governmental red tape. But this is the same issue that then-Vice President Al Gore was to have fixed the last time the Democrats ruled the White House.
Doesn’t anyone remember Gore [...]

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In response to protectionist populism, the recently passed US economic stimulus bill included a controversial “Buy American” Clause. The rule, which was watered down from its original language, requires that all Steel, Iron, and “Manufactured Goods” used for stimulus backed “public works” projects be produced in America unless:

Quality or quantity from US suppliers is insufficient
Cost [...]

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We’ve looked at why now is a good time to address legal services spend (down economy, rising unemployment) and how to approach it (alternatives to the billable hour). Now, it’s time to push firms to reduce charges, boost efficiency, and in some instances, stop placing junior staffers on your accounts. All of this can [...]

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Since Lady Thatcher exited the British political scene in the eighties, unions in the United Kingdom have not been the fiercest to organize demonstrations. So why have thousands oil and power plant workers across the United Kingdom staged strikes over the last 5 days?
Crowds have been demonstrating all over Europe in the recent weeks. The [...]

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