Purchasing

P&G-Gillette: Blueprint for a merger
As the chief procurement officer of one of the biggest consumer products companies on the planet, Rick Hughes isn't rattled easily. But when he got word in January 2005 that his company, Procter & Gamble, was buying rival Gillette in the largest-ever consumer products industry merger, his first thought was something along the lines of: "Wow, how are we going to pull this off?" Fast forward ...

• Chemicals outlook 2008: Global demand means higher prices
• 2008 Electronics Pricing Outlook: Here's what you'll pay this year
• Why chip prices won't drop much: Tightening supply
• Watch total costs if sourcing in India
• Strategic sourcing: Dow Chemical turns inward
• Inventory management: Software shines light on savings
• 2008 Materials Outlook: Prices will stay up
• Metals: Here's what you'll pay this year
• 2008 Manufacturing Outlook: Buyers will have a busy year
• 2008 Manufacturing Outlook: Here's what buyers will be doing
• With travel budgets tight and rates high, buyers keep costs in check in 2008

Chemicals Chemicals Petroleum, plant oils send surfactant prices through the roof CMAI: aromatics expansion will bring prices down Dow shuts down plants, exits automotive sealers market Sumitomo may expand Middle East JV Helium shortage spurs price hikes Ethanol prices to stay put amid market stress Dow sells $9.5B worth of businesses into JV Electronics Edition 2008 Electronics Pricing Outlook 2008 Electronics Pricing Outlook: Here's what you'll pay this year 2008 Electronics Supply Outlook Why chip prices won't drop much: Tightening supply Electronics Distribution Expect more from distributors in 2008 Electronics Trends Capex cutbacks could cause supply headaches for electronics buyers Business Intelligence Qimonda moves more production to 300mm wafers Fewer military connectors will be mil-spec Distribution Roundup Chinese chip market surpasses $50 billion Global Sourcing Watch total costs if sourcing in India Logistics Logistics Competition heats up in the Asian small-parcel market Railroads will face pressure to merge Ocean freight rates to peak in 2008 LTL carriers get more competitive as demand slowdown continues Lufthansa reports overcapacity, Forward buys BlackHawk Metals Global Briefs Business Intelligence Metals Chips Steel Briefs 2008 Metals Price Outlook Metals: Here's what you'll pay this year Aluminum Alexin has broken ground on greenfield aluminum billet plant in Indiana No end seen for the weak aluminum demand from downstream end-use markets Gold World Gold Council eyes use in automotive catalytic converters Nonferrous Mining Michigan OKs Kennecott mine Climax moly mine to re-open Secondary Aluminum Alcoa expands aluminum recycling capability 50% Stainless Steel Stainless steel: Monthly production trimmed worldwide in the fourth quarter Steel ArcelorMittal plans a new steel beam mill in Quebec ArcelorMittal calls off sale of Maryland steel mill Steel Futures Flat-rolled steel trading in New York put off until "sometime" this year Steel Trade Steel: Imports dropped 26% in 2007; outlook for 2008 is so-so Titanium Timet defers titanium sponge plant

MRO + Distribution MRO + Distribution To ward off economic chills, MRO buyers work on relationships in '08 News and Departments Black Belt Negotiators "Bowled over by sourcing constraints" Chemicals Business Intelligence Pricing News Economy + Supply Economy + Supply Analysts Debate Recession Clean Energy Outlays Grow Nissan to Cut Weight by 15% 11-Month Chip Sales Up 2.8% Electronics Leadtimes Dram Capex to Slow Ethanol Shakeout is Due Australian Nickel may Expand Asean Nations form Trade Pact Synfuel Facility Planned Ariba Closes on Procuri LCD Shortage is Possible Hitachi may Quit Hard Drives Logistics Asian small parcel timeline Business Intelligence MRO + Distribution Business Intelligence MRO Briefs My Turn Commodities prices may be high, but here is a way to control other costs Office Business Intelligence Prices Prices Airfares are Increasing Nippon Wins 10% Plate Hike Mechanical Tubing Drops Ethanol Prices may be Higher Crude Oil Prices Hit $100 Cobalt Price Sets Records Precious Metals may Cost More Copper Prices will Rise Trucking Rates to Stay Low Uranium Price may Go Higher Dram Price Dive Over? Specialty Chemicals Increase Trends Business Intelligence Office Office What to look for in multi-function products in 2008 Office Briefs Trends Trends Intel expands supplier diversity program globally MeadWestvaco's procurement team looks to improve product stewardship Steelmakers, miners look to low-cost regions for iron-ore mines BASF CEO: Commodity costs to stay high Xstrata plans to capitalize on high coal prices Port of Long Beach to implement clean-air cargo fee