Manufacturing executives consistently cite “adding value to the company’s bottom line” as a top priority for purchasing.  We highlighted how purchasing can contribute bottom line value by aiding in new business pursuit in an earlier Purchasing Insights; in this issue, we address the topic of cost savings. … [Read more...]

Competition for experienced purchasing talent is at an all-time high. Purchasing superheroes are out there, but you’ll need to move fast and act decisively to land them. Here are eight tips for improving your odds of not just filling a desk, but finding a proven purchasing professional to add to your team. … [Read more...]

Our 2017 survey of manufacturing company C-suite executives reinforced that purchasing needs to add more value to the bottom line (repeating a key finding of the 2016 survey).  New insights from our 2017 survey and conversations with executives point towards supporting new business pursuit as a C-suite priority for purchasing.  … [Read more...]

Acquisitions provide companies with the opportunity, if executed well, to accelerate growth and create value in their business.  However, poorly executed acquisitions that are overvalued or not integrated well can have negative impacts up to and including loss of your investment. … [Read more...]

APD Placement conducted a survey of nearly 200 purchasing professionals in 2016 to find out what they valued in their current position, and what their priorities would be in a new job.  The results were published in the white paper … [Read more...]

The recent US election has brought with it the possibility of significant changes to corporate taxation, health care and trade policies with some of our largest trading partners.  In this month’s Purchasing Insights we will talk about Trade. … [Read more...]

A 2013 IBM study found that companies with high performing purchasing organizations achieve 22% higher margins.  This figure is especially significant for manufacturer’s whose material as a percentage of sales most often falls between 50 and 70%. But what sets the high performing purchasing organizations apart and enables the margin improvement?  … [Read more...]

There is a common mistaken belief that Lemmings hurl themselves off of cliffs in an act of mass suicide to control their population.  Actually, the Lemmings are participating in a mass migration.  The fortunate land in the water and complete their migration; the unfortunate land on the rocks below. Similar to Lemmings, manufacturers have participated in mass global migrations as business opportunities were identified in Brazil (1980’s and 1990’s), China and to a lesser degree India (2000’s … [Read more...]

The domestic automotive industry has been on a tear since bottoming out during the great recession.  Volumes have exceeded the previous peak, and there are plenty of indicators that a growing economy will continue to drive vehicle purchases.  But there are plenty of reasons why growth will stall, ranging from weaknesses in global demand to declines in consumer confidence to a potential interest rate increase. The mixed message for the US economy is leading forecasters to vary their … [Read more...]