Supply Excellence

“Government Spend Management” used to be an oxymoron. Now, it needs to happen.

February 3rd, 2010 · 1 Comment · best practices, spend analysis, supply risk

While making fun of the way governments purchase has long been a good source of humor in spend management circles, the deficit news coming out now leads one to believe that it is now time to really make something happen.
What do you think? How would you make this happen? Is it a lost [...]

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EPA Bans 4 Chemical Types: Impact on supply chain?

January 8th, 2010 · No Comments · LCCS and trade, oil/energy, sourcing, supply management, supply risk

On December 30th, the EPA announced plans to place greater restrictions on 4 types of chemicals; phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated chemicals. To quote the EPA’s press release:
EPA intends to establish a “Chemicals of Concern” list and is beginning a process that may lead to regulations requiring significant risk [...]

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Health Insurance Costs to Double Again?

November 9th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Services Procurement, spend analysis, supplier management, supply market dynamics

Although there are many moving parts in the equation (especially around the health care reform package making its way through the US Congress currently), health insurance premiums, which doubled in the last decade, are on track to repeat that feat over the next ten years. From 1999 to 2008, premiums increased by a reported [...]

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Friday Homework: What’s wrong with this bid process?

October 30th, 2009 · 2 Comments · best practices, sourcing, supplier management

I thought we might try something different this Friday and if it works perhaps turn it into a regular feature here. The news often tells the story of spend management efforts gone awry … or worse yet … a total lack of spend management! Thus is the case with the Air Force’s attempt to award [...]

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Safety Report Comes Back on Mexican Truckers

October 19th, 2009 · 2 Comments · LCCS and trade, supply management

The long-awaited report from the Department of Transportation on the safety of Mexican trucks crossing the US-Mexico border stated that the Mexican trucks’ out-of-service rates were similar to those of the United States’ trucks. The report found that in 2008, 21.2% of inspections of Mexican trucks resulted in taking trucks out of service, while 21.8% [...]

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