Procurement Leaders News

Supply chain counterfeiting a growing threat to product integrity

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000

12 million parts have been involved in incidents of counterfeiting between the beginning of 2007 and April 2012 according to industry analysts IHS.

IBM beefs up mobile and social media marketing technologies

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:12:00 +0000

IBM has unveiled a package of software and services designed to help chief marketing officers (CMO) deliver personalised communications on mobile devices and social media channels.

Consultants warn sustainability efforts can weaken margins

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:30:00 +0000

The vast majority of businesses say that sustainability is vital to their future growth, but almost half say that margins are currently lower on sustainable products and services, according to new research.

SAP to acquire Ariba for $4.3bn

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:15:00 +0000

German software company SAP has shaken the procurement technology space by announcing an agreement to acquire the b2b ecommerce firm Ariba.

Amazon and McDonald’s are big risers in supply chain rankings

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Research group Gartner has announced its eighth annual Supply Chain 25 rankings, placing retail giants Amazon and McDonald’s alongside mainstays Apple, Dell and Procter & Gamble.

Strategic value and game-changing ideas take centre stage at London Forum

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:47:00 +0000

"The role of procurement has to change," Eva Wimmers (pictured), SVP of procurement at Deutsche Telekom told a packed room of CPOs at the Procurement Leaders London Forum.

Packaging procurement budgets set to grow by 11.5% this year

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:39:00 +0000

Market watchers have predicted that annual global procurement packaging budgets will grow by more than 10% this year.

New York revs up highway freight safety system

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:15:00 +0000

New York has boosted its commercial truck inspection programme with the deployment of technology that allows equipped-vehicles to electronically report key vehicle data.

Procurement teams revel in star-studded awards ceremony

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:29:00 +0000

The exceptional and the innovative rubbed shoulders at The Brewery in London tonight as the star-studded Procurement Leaders Awards recognised the brightest and best in the procurement world.

Alliance Boots signs five-year FM deal with Interserve

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:28:00 +0000

Interserve has been awarded a five-year, “total facilities management” contract with Alliance Boots, the international, pharmacy-led health and beauty group.

Weakness in US military supply chain led to procurement of counterfeit parts

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:27:00 +0000

A year-long probe into the US military supply chain has found over 1800 cases of fake parts being used in the construction of US military aircraft, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

UK public and private sectors paying ‘extortionate’ prices for IT procurement

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:27:00 +0000

Organisations in the public and private sectors have been paying margins up to 731% on IT procurement.

Toyota supplier warns of energy shortage fallout

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:02:00 +0000

A leading Japanese supplier to automotive giant Toyota has warned that it could be facing power shortages this summer after Japan shut down all of its nuclear power stations.

BCA revs up remarketing fleet deal with Arval

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:31:00 +0000

Vehicle remarketing group British Car Auction has sealed a three year remarketing contract with Arval UK, a vehicle leasing and fleet management company.

HR managers urged to simplify executive compensation packages

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Executive Incentives have become “so complex” and volatile that they no longer motivate those they are designed to attract, human resources experts have warned.

Automotive giants' sourcing linked to deforestation

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000

Greenpeace have accused automotive giants including Ford, GM, BMW aof sourcing material from Brazil which is linked to illegal logging and slave labour.

Procurement heading towards 'redundancy' in forming marketing strategies

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Procurement professionals are heading "towards redundancy" as their role is becoming less important in formulating marketing strategies, a senior marketing consultant has suggested.

China rare earth quotas to expand

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Following the news that new environmental standards have been met, China is allowing more companies to export rare earth metals.

Telecoms buyers prepare for 'big upsurge' in mobile data volumes

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:20:00 +0000

Mobile phone users will, in 2016, on average consume 6.5 times as much data as in 2011 according to market experts.

‘Quick and easy’ device measures corporate power consumption

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:08:00 +0000

German scientists have unveiled a newly developed sensor that they claim will allow corporates to quickly and easily measure their power consumption.

GM hands reprieve to UK northwest auto supply chain

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:53:00 +0000

General Motors (GM), is expected to confirm on Thursday that its struggling Vauxhall Ellsemere Port in the north of England will produce the new Astra model but the supply chain in the region remains weak.

Smart buildings to save US government $15m annually

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:05:00 +0000

The US General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded a contract to IBM to develop and install advanced smart building technology in 50 of the federal government’s highest energy-consuming buildings.

Supply chain management software investment keeps ‘priority status’

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:38:00 +0000

Global sales of supply chain management (SCM) software totalled $7.7bn in 2011, a 12.3% increase from 2010, according to new market estimates.

Potato procurement fraud scam cost Sainsbury's millions

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:39:00 +0000

The finance director at a potato supplier has been convicted of bribing a Sainsbury’s buyer and overcharging the UK supermarket by millions of pounds.

UK CFOs target indirect spend

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:12:00 +0000

UK finance chiefs are predicting weak growth in the economy and have identified several cost cutting opportunities as key over the next year.

DHL to build €27m Brussels air freight logistics centre

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:08:00 +0000

DHL Global Forwarding will build a new €27m logistics centre for air freight at Brussels Airport.

JetBlue promotes new supply chain chief

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:07:00 +0000

US low-cost airline JetBlue Airways has announced the appointment of Mary Margaret Neff as vice president of supply chain.

Germany plastic packaging production hits record levels

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The German plastics packaging industry increased production by 5% to a record 4.3 million tonnes in 2011.

Jaguar Land Rover to drive £1bn into UK supply chain

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced plans to spend an addition £1bn with UK suppliers over the next four years.

Primark snaps up M&S head of sourcing

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:15:00 +0000

Fashion retailer Primark has hired UK competitor Marks & Spencer’s head of sourcing Garry Gordon as group sourcing director.