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News 2004

This page lists purchasing and supply news from 2004.

Orders boost manufacturing activity in DecemberThe UK manufacturing sector enjoyed its most successful month in December for four years on the back of big increases in new orders, according to the latest PMI figures. 02 January 2004
December seals strong quarter growth for buildersThe UK construction sector completed its strongest quarter of growth in December, according to the latest PMI figures. 05 January 2004
Services activity confirms recoveryServices companies in the UK confirmed the sector's post-war and Sars recovery in December, according to the latest PMI report. 06 January 2004
Sterling gives users real time view of supply chainSterling Commerce has launched version 3.0 of its Business Process Management (BPM) and integration platform, Sterling Integrator, into the Europe, Middle East and African (EMEA) market. 08 January 2004
Whitehall refuses to ditch auctionsThe government is standing firm on the use of e-auctions despite another construction organisation condemning them for promoting lowest-price buying. 08 January 2004
Buyers warned on camera phonesPurchasers should be aware of the security risks posed to corporate data by camera phones and other advanced personal electronic devices, according to a leading IT consultancy. 08 January 2004
Nissan staff warned over 'futile' protest at moveIndustrial action by purchasers at Nissan over a planned move from Sunderland would be "futile", according to an automotive industry expert. 08 January 2004
DLO vows to track equipment betterThe Defence Logistics Organisation will overhaul its equipment tracking systems after two recent reports found problems during the Iraq war. 08 January 2004
Tap supplier ideas, urges HewittTrade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt wants government purchasers to work more closely with suppliers to drive Britain's innovation agenda. 08 January 2004
Court tells buyers to spell out green criteria in tendersPurchasers in the European public sector must clearly state the environmental and social criteria that will be applied at the start of the tender process. 08 January 2004
Essex authorities combine to pool purchasing budgetsA consortium of local authorities in Essex has joined forces in a bid to improve the county's public-sector purchasing. 08 January 2004
Supply chains face rising risks from outside forcesSupply chains are increasingly vulnerable and at risk of disruption, according to a new report for the government. 08 January 2004
Large firms fail to promote plansThree-quarters of large companies have a procurement strategy but many staff don't know about it, according to a new report. 08 January 2004
Research boss seeks improvementThe new head of service at the Research Councils' Procurement Organisation (RCPO) wants to improve training and knowledge of best practice at the central purchasing service for the six government research councils. 22 January 2004
Degree chief's warning on better supply chainsToo many organisations mistakenly believe that a successful procurement professional can automatically improve total supply chain performance, according to the new MSc procurement scheme leader at the University of Glamorgan. 22 January 2004
Wrexham officer set to implement value proposalsColette Mason has been appointed procurement officer at Wrexham County Borough Council in north Wales. 22 January 2004
Tories want buyers to expose 'waste'The Conservative Party is looking for purchasers, especially those with direct knowledge of government procurement, to help it attack Labour's public spending record in the run-up to the next election. 22 January 2004
Nissan staff step back from strikePurchasers at the Nissan plant on Wearside have done a U-turn over strike action. 22 January 2004
Barcodes on trees may fail to guarantee ethical woodPurchasers buying Indonesian timber under a new initiative to put barcodes on trees to certify them as legally harvested should be aware that the wood may still not be ethically produced. 22 January 2004
Manufacturers end 2003 on a highBritain's manufacturing sector finished last year with the biggest monthly growth in four years, even though new orders grew more slowly. 22 January 2004
NHS purchasing bodies face an uncertain futureThe future of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (Pasa) and the NHS Logistics Authority hangs in the balance as the Department of Health's commercial directorate, set up to review the NHS's £11 billion budget, releases its findings this month. 22 January 2004
Royal Mail keen to develop savingsThe Royal Mail plans to channel up to £100 million of goods and services through e-auctions in the next year after trials saved it an estimated £2.5 million. 22 January 2004
Scots aim to sway public sector on e-procurementThe Scottish Executive is hoping that the launch this month of its eProcurement Scotl@nd website will persuade the public sector to buy £1 billion of goods and services online. 22 January 2004
Companies warned over moving call centres eastBusinesses outsourcing call centre operations to India risk damaging their brands and losing customers through poor service, according to a new report. 22 January 2004
Buyers go for more regular reviewsMost big purchasers now renegotiate contracts every six months rather than wait three to five years, according to a report from software firm Ariba. 22 January 2004
Businesses miss benefits of high-tech radio taggingMany companies are unable to reap the full benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging, which allows more sophisticated tracking of goods through electronic scanning. 22 January 2004
Paper talks louder than technologyMost UK companies are snubbing automated supply chain technology in favour of paper-based manual processes when communicating with trading partners, says a new report. 22 January 2004
UK manufacturers maintain rapid growthThe UK manufacturing sector maintained its rapid growth in January, according to the latest PMI figures. 02 February 2004
Construction growth slows in JanuaryActivity in the UK construction industry grew strongly again in January, according to the latest PMI figures. 03 February 2004
Services firms make strong start to 2004Services companies in the UK made a far better start to the year in 2004 than in the previous year, according to the latest PMI figures. 04 February 2004
Ariba buys FreeMarkets and plans system mergerEnterprise spend management solutions provider Ariba has bought global supply management software firm FreeMarkets for $493 million. 05 February 2004
CIPS chair demands gas price probeUtilities buyers are bracing themselves for further price rises amid claims of market manipulation by gas suppliers and unrealistic government environmental targets. 05 February 2004
PC makers urged to protect staffComputer manufacturers have been urged to demand better working conditions among their suppliers in low-cost countries after a report revealed a litany of discrimination and harassment. 05 February 2004
MoD under fire for £3bn overspendThe Ministry of Defence is under pressure to show improvements in its smart procurement initiative after a £3 billion overrun on major projects last year. 05 February 2004
Buyers refuse to support 'blinkered' <br>e-auction guideAttempts to get the construction industry to agree on the use of e-auctions have broken down following CIPS's withdrawal of support for major guidelines. 05 February 2004
Supermarkets hit back at supplier bullying claimsThe UK's four biggest supermarkets have hit back over fresh claims that they are harming suppliers' livelihoods. 05 February 2004
Courts ban CD Wow's 'grey' importsThe UK courts have delivered another landmark ruling against parallel importing by banning an online compact disc retailer from buying cheap goods from outside Europe. 05 February 2004
Buyers urged to be vigilant after fraud cases doublePurchasers have been urged to protect the reputation of their businesses after the number of corporate fraud cases doubled last year. 05 February 2004
Scottish Courage claims victory after supply crisisBrewing giant Scottish Courage claims it has finally turned around its crisis-hit supply network after making a record number of deliveries complete and on time in the run-up to Christmas. 05 February 2004
More firms head for court over billsSmall businesses are increasingly likely to take legal action against firms that delay paying their bills, new research suggests. 05 February 2004
Airbus MD switches to top procurement roleThe UK managing director of aeroplane manufacturer Airbus has moved to France to take on a senior procurement role at the company's headquarters. 05 February 2004
Skills body hires contracts managerKerry Harris has been appointed to the new position of contracts manager at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which is responsible for funding and planning education and training for 16-year-olds and over in England. 05 February 2004
Safeway's supply chief decides not to join MorrisonsSafeway's supply director is to leave when Morrisons takes over the supermarket chain. 05 February 2004
Purchasers blast competition probeSenior government purchasers have warned that a probe into possible discrimination against small firms will be a waste of time. 19 February 2004
Nissan buyers face final job choicePurchasers at car maker Nissan's efficiency award-winning Sunderland plant are "gutted" at having to abandon their profession and take jobs in different departments if they want to remain in the north east. 19 February 2004
OGC marketplace faces struggleThe Office for Government Commerce (OGC) will tender for a technology supplier for its proposed purchase-to-pay e-marketplace this spring but the project may struggle to ensure value for money. 19 February 2004
Regulator turns spotlight on its own spending plansEnergy regulator Ofgem is to get a taste of its own medicine as it revamps its procurement practices and imposes strict price controls on its spending. 19 February 2004
Police chiefs told to take a lead on e-procurementPolice forces are suffering from a lack of direction and co-ordination in creating and adopting e-procurement systems, according to the procurement head of the first police force to launch its own system. 19 February 2004
Labour warned over foreign 'suicide'The government will have to introduce legislation forbidding foreign outsourcing if it wants to avoid political suicide, according to an industry expert. 19 February 2004
Think-tank calls for openness in PFI contractsDetails of procurement in private finance initiative (PFI) projects are still shrouded in secrecy, according to new research from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). 19 February 2004
Buyers urged to be patient with budgets for meetingsPurchasers have been warned that it can take up to three years to get to grips with their organisation's budget for business meetings. 19 February 2004
Manufacturing recovery continuesManufacturing maintained its strong recovery in January, based on improved export orders and strong employment, according to the latest CIPS/Reuters purchasing managers' index. 19 February 2004
Axa names Wills to lead shake-upThe UK division of French insurance company Axa is to merge its procurement departments to help it meet its global savings targets for purchasing. 19 February 2004
New MDA chief seeks savings after mergerDale Stokes has been named as head of corporate purchasing at retail and leisure supply chain and procurement specialist MDA. He will merge its external procurement for its clients with its own internal purchasing. 19 February 2004
Head consultant pushes strategy following moveStrategically thought-out supplier development programmes can improve supplier performance by a third, according to Ken Morris, the new senior consultant with consultancy Brian Farrington. 19 February 2004
Growth slows for UK manufacturersThe UK manufacturing sector enjoyed another month of rising activity in February, according to the latest PMI figures. 01 March 2004
Commercial demand fuels construction expansionUK construction companies were busier in February than the previous month, according to the latest PMI figures. 02 March 2004
Services companies maintain robust performanceBritish services companies saw a marginal fall in growth in February but activity still showed a rapid increase, according to the latest PMI figures. 03 March 2004
Whitehall fears 'dictatorial' regimeThe leak of Labour's major government efficiency review has sparked fears among purchasers of a more centralised and dictatorial procurement regime. 04 March 2004
Gershon sparks council confusionLabour's review of government efficiency is sending conflicting signals to local council purchasers. 04 March 2004
UK firms need to be more outspoken over briberyUK businesses have been urged to press the government to bolster its anti-corruption legislation by prosecuting more British companies suspected of foreign bribery practises. 04 March 2004
Aventis reforms hit by takeover bidA hostile takeover bid threatens to frustrate a major reorganisation of purchasing at Franco-German pharmaceutical group Aventis. 04 March 2004
Debts law fails to make businesses pay up fasterLegislation to make companies pay bills on time has been branded "a failure" by a new report. 04 March 2004
Pasa could be asked to change focusThe NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (Pasa) could buy medical supplies for government departments other than health. 04 March 2004
Local councils struggle to capture online benefitsCapturing the benefits of an e-procurement system is one on the hardest elements of analysing whether the investment has been worthwhile for local authorities. 04 March 2004
Joint effort to ease chemical fearsBritish chemical and retail industry leaders will work together to rebuild public and retailer confidence in the chemicals used in consumer products. 04 March 2004
Meier moves into senior post at GSKJoe Meier has been appointed senior vice-president, global procurement, for third-party management at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. 04 March 2004
Loseby exchanges bank role for Britvic positionDavid Loseby has been appointed director of purchasing at Britvic Soft Drinks. 04 March 2004
Former CIPS president sets up own consultancyFormer CIPS president Peter Smith has started his own consultancy, ProcurementExcellence, to help companies turn purchasing theory into savings. 04 March 2004
Medical council hires buying chiefAndrew Hinett has been appointed the first head of procurement at the General Medical Council, the independent watchdog protecting patients' interests in their dealings with the medical profession. 18 March 2004
Linsell takes charge at healthcare commissionMick Linsell has been appointed head of corporate services, including purchasing, for the new independent inspectorate Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) when it starts work next month. 18 March 2004
Yearsley leaves global role at Ford for Cap GeminiAndy Yearsley has joined consultancy Cap Gemini Ernst & Young as an executive consultant in the sourcing and relationship management team within the supply chain group. 18 March 2004
Auditor backs OGC savings recordThe Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has beaten its savings target of £1 billion since its inception in 2001, but some departments still lack procurement strategies, according to the National Audit Office. 18 March 2004
Electricity prices set to rise againPurchasers should brace themselves for more hefty electricity price hikes in the October round of contract negotiations. 18 March 2004
Eurostar on track for big savings from online driveCross-Channel train operator Eurostar has pushed 60 per cent of its spend through its e-procurement system a year after installation. 18 March 2004
Exchange offers to teach suppliersExostar, the online marketplace for the aerospace and defence industry, is offering training to suppliers to improve their e-auction strategies. 18 March 2004
Purchasers struggle to crack budget 'black holes'Purchasers continue to struggle with tracking and influencing spend in services "black holes" such as marketing, travel and facilities management, consulting and temporary labour, according to a major new survey. 18 March 2004
Two universities use e-marketplace for lab suppliesTwo universities are extending their e-procurement programmes by implementing an e-marketplace tool for purchasing laboratory supplies. 18 March 2004
Government opens route to China for small firmsThe British government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council are to set up a joint programme to advise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) wanting to tap into the mainland China market. 18 March 2004
Poor returns cost retailers £200mThe UK retail sector is wasting up to £200 million a year through inefficient supply chain practices for the return of unwanted, unsold or damaged goods. 18 March 2004
OGC names Oughton as new chiefJohn Oughton has been appointed chief executive of the government's main procurement advisory body, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). 01 April 2004
Amec gains from local suppliersInternational engineering firm Amec says that using Iraqi labour and suppliers to rebuild the war-torn state will reduce the likelihood of attacks on facilities. 01 April 2004
Councils fall short on savings goalsSavings on goods and services from 12 major pilot e-procurement projects in local government launched a year ago have been lower than expected. 01 April 2004
Biotech firm restructures purchasing as spend soarsPioneering US biotechnology firm Genentech has begun to restructure procurement in order to handle a 35 per cent increase in its third- party budget. 01 April 2004
Council helps SMEs to win workA local authority in Essex next week launches a pilot project to help small and medium-sized firms compete more effectively for contracts in the county. 01 April 2004
More firms urged to check suppliersMore work still needs to be done to persuade businesses to open up their supply chains to ethical scrutiny, according to Ken James, CIPS's chief executive. 01 April 2004
Contractors told to meet RMC's ethical standardsRMC Group, one of the world's largest suppliers of building materials, has published a report outlining how it meets its health, safety, environmental and social responsibilities. 01 April 2004
Distributors close in on EU entrants for fast deliveriesLogistics firms are preparing to offer faster delivery to clients operating in the latest wave of entrants to the European Union when they join next month. 01 April 2004
Involve buyers from start, says guidePurchasing professionals should be involved from the outset in the process of selecting creative agencies, according to industry guidelines published last week. 01 April 2004
Buyers warned over price threat to anti-obesity driveLocal authority purchasers will have to re-examine their evaluation processes when buying food services if the government's anti-obesity campaign is to succeed, says an industry leader. 01 April 2004
UK manufacturers end first quarter with faster growthThe UK manufacturing sector ended the first quarter of 2004 with accelerating growth, according to the latest PMI figures. 01 April 2004
UK builders see activity rise againUK construction activity grew in March for the sixty-second consecutive month, according to the latest PMI figures. 02 April 2004
Sector-wide growth supports services expansionAll areas of the UK services sector enjoyed higher activity in March than February, according to the latest PMI figures. 05 April 2004
New directors complete Pasa moveThe appointment of three senior staff to the management executive of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (Pasa) as directors has completed a major re-organisation of the NHS's main purchasing agency, based on nine geographical regions in England. 15 April 2004
George aims to boost BreconRidge in EuropeMartin George has been appointed vice-president and managing director for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at BreconRidge Manufacturing Solutions. 15 April 2004
Rowan takes top purchasing job at research councilEwan Rowan has been named head of procurement at the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), one of the seven government research councils. 15 April 2004
Boots set to sign indirect buying dealRetailer Boots is set to sign a multi-million pound deal with IBM to outsource all of the administration of its indirect procurement operation. 15 April 2004
Campaigners blast anti-bribe rulesNew rules unveiled by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) to stamp out corruption don't go far enough, according to anti-bribery organisations. 15 April 2004
Gershon review to fuel pay boom for interim buyersDaily rates for interim purchasing managers will soar as local and central government tries to improve procurement, according to a specialist recruitment firm. 15 April 2004
Helicopters grounded by purchasingThe National Audit Office (NAO) has bitterly criticised flawed procurement practices that have delayed the introduction of badly needed Chinook helicopters into the UK armed forces by nine years. 15 April 2004
'Outsource recruitment to slash unnecessary costs'Unnecessary procurement costs in recruitment could be removed by outsourcing the process, new research suggests. 15 April 2004
Builders suffer worsening deliveriesWorsening delivery delays and rising input prices are highlighted in the latest CIPS/NTC Research purchasing managers' index report on construction. 15 April 2004
Tech-reliant firms urged to act faster in emergenciesIT services company EDS has published a list of "must-dos" to ensure computer-reliant businesses do not collapse following an unexpected disaster. 15 April 2004
Self-booking tools 'make business travel cheaper'Properly implemented self-booking tools could help procurement managers to cut staff, processing and transaction costs for travel. 15 April 2004
Aggregated fares set for growthAggregated fare prices for airline journeys and hotel rooms are expected to feature heavily in the next phase of travel management outsourcing. 15 April 2004
Manchester snubs OGC in card rowManchester City Council has snubbed the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) by rejecting its preferred purchasing card and signing up with a rival. 29 April 2004
BA buttons down cheaper uniformBritish Airways has slashed the cost of designing, manufacturing and distributing its new uniform to half the original 2001 budget. 29 April 2004
Associations target £1.5bn savings on repairs budgetA proposed purchasing initiative for housing associations could slash the national cost of repairing Britain's social accommodation by up to £1.5 billion a year. 29 April 2004
M&S tops social responsibility listMarks and Spencer has come top of a list of 35 FTSE 350 companies for socially responsible supply chains in developing countries. 29 April 2004
OGC director vows to keep using smaller suppliersA senior economic adviser to the UK government has rejected claims that small and medium-sized companies are often badly run and said the government will continue encouraging them to bid for public-sector contracts. 29 April 2004
'Dalliances' are vital, delegates toldPurchasers should remember the importance of short-term, less strategic supplier relationships as they seek essential long-term alliances, according to academics involved in a government-backed research project. 29 April 2004
Parkinson seeks to boost card useJim Parkinson has been appointed head of payment cards at OGCbuying.solutions, the Office of Government Commerce's commercial division. 29 April 2004
White takes charge of supplies for NHS trustTony White has been appointed head of supplies at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where he will control a budget of more than £138 million. 29 April 2004
Carruthers joins higher education body from IBMStuart Carruthers has been appointed to the new role of head of secretariat for Proc-HE, the procurement strategy implementation group for the higher education sector. 29 April 2004
Price rises spark global metal searchPurchasers at manufacturing companies are searching the globe for cheap steel to reduce overheads and stay in business. 29 April 2004
Outsourcing lifts shoe firm's profits by 16%Outsourcing to manufacturers in cheap labour markets has boosted profits for shoemaker Clarks. 29 April 2004
Economy fuels pay rises for purchasing managersPurchasing salaries are rising because the economic recovery has made it possible for companies to reward their staff, according to the latest quarterly survey by recruitment consultancy Purcon (see chart below). 29 April 2004
Faster growth in April for UK manufacturersThe growth in UK manufacturing activity accelerated in April, according to the latest PMI figures. 04 May 2004
Builders enjoy boom times but prices rocketThe UK construction industry kept up its recent strong growth in April, according to the latest PMI figures. 05 May 2004
Higher growth brings price rises in UK services sectorMore than a quarter of UK services companies said activity had risen in April, according to the latest PMI figures, as they battled with rising input prices. 06 May 2004
Risk oversights threaten US tradeMost supply chains are vulnerable to potentially disastrous risks that could cripple a company's operations and wipe millions off share prices, an analyst warned. 13 May 2004
Outsourcing set to leave China for IndonesiaThe days of taking advantage of cheap labour and outsourcing in China are numbered and companies need to look at other countries, according to a professor of economics. 13 May 2004
Female purchasers urged to enhance leading skillsWomen need to enhance their assertiveness, team-building and leadership skills to get ahead in procurement, delegates were told at the ISM conference. 13 May 2004
Marketing is key to board's respectDelegates heard effective marketing is the key to ensuring senior management understands the value of purchasing. 13 May 2004
Procurement takes second place on fraudsters' hit listProcurement departments are the second most likely target for company fraudsters, a report by financial investigators KPMG Forensic has revealed. 13 May 2004
Buyers prefer web to find suppliersNew research shows procurement professionals are twice as likely to use Internet search engines to find suppliers than preferred supplier lists. 13 May 2004
Masterlink simplifies data transfer for small firmsMasterlink, a London-based e-document exchange and integration company, has launched a managed e-business platform called Express that enables small firms to send documents to their partners' clients irrespective of technology. 13 May 2004
Eutilia relaunches e-marketplaceEutilia, an independent marketplace for the utilities sector, has relaunched its Industry Marketplace that brings together European buyers and sellers of energy. 13 May 2004
Supplier diversity helps firms to win new businessUsing women and minority businesses as suppliers can help a company to build its customer base and make its supply chain more adaptable. 13 May 2004
Oxfam targets better procurementOxfam's new purchasing strategy manager says one of her main challenges is making the charity's procurement more professional. 13 May 2004
Andrew to lead group purchasing at BritanniaPaul Andrew has been appointed group purchasing manager at Britannia Building Society based in Leek, Staffordshire. 13 May 2004
Griffith to begin spend analysis at Telford & WrekinAdrian Griffith has joined the Borough of Telford and Wrekin as procurement manager. 13 May 2004
Trust ditches outsourced purchasingHospital chiefs in north-west England have brought an outsourced procurement function back in-house just five years after it was taken over by a private firm. 13 May 2004
Purchasers reject Gershon plansMost procurement professionals are convinced that Sir Peter Gershon's proposal for more centralised government purchasing will deliver neither cost savings nor improved efficiency. 13 May 2004
MoD puts consultants in charge of £6bn vehiclesThe Ministry of Defence has announced a dramatic departure from its normal procurement processes by putting technology consultants in charge of a £6 billion programme to build the army's next generation of armoured vehicles. 27 May 2004
Rising oil prices crush cost hopesProcurement bosses hoping to drive down transport costs are in for a rough ride after oil prices reached their highest level for 13 years. 27 May 2004
Companies unhappy with results in 50% of IT dealsAn estimated half of all IT outsourcing deals in Europe fail to meet expectations, according to a year-long study of more than 20 companies in major deals. 27 May 2004
BBC draws up IT bidders' shortlistThe BBC has drawn up a shortlist of bidders for its IT services arm as part of a £2 billion outsourcing project. 27 May 2004
Custom Fleet appoints Auld as trade managerNick Auld has been appointed trade services manager at vehicle contract hire company Custom Fleet to oversee a purchasing budget of about £100 million. 27 May 2004
3663 names outsourcing leaderMark Davies has been appointed to lead the third-party outsourcing operation of food services company 3663. 27 May 2004
Women catch up with men on purchasing pay scaleFemale purchasing managers have caught up with men in the pay stakes, says a new survey from CIPS/Croner Reward. 27 May 2004
'Mass customisation' is not realisticThe "Holy Grail" of pure mass customisation is unlikely to be realised in most sectors, according to Professor Bart MacCarthy. 27 May 2004
Quarterly rise in orders for small manufacturersSmall manufacturers have seen orders rise for the first time in over three years, with confidence climbing at the fastest rate since April 2002, according to the latest survey by the employers' organisation, the CBI. 27 May 2004
Hopes dashed over Gershon reviewExpectations that the review of public-sector efficiency by Sir Peter Gershon will be published have been dashed amid protests over his alleged proposals from senior civil servants and local government officers. 27 May 2004
Security costs 10% of repair billTen per cent of the money spent on rebuilding Iraq is going to security companies protecting workers in the war-torn state. 27 May 2004
Manufacturers battle to meet rising demandUK manufacturers enjoyed another rise in activity in May, according to the latest PMI figures. 01 June 2004
Shortages fuel record input price inflationThe sharp rise in oil and steel prices hit UK building companies hard in May, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI). 02 June 2004
Hotels and restaurants lead services growthHotels and restaurants enjoyed the strongest growth in the UK services sector in May, as sector-wide business activity maintained its recent expansion. 03 June 2004
RMC brings logistics back in-houseRMC UK cement division, part of one of the world's largest building materials and concrete suppliers, will bring its multi-million pound logistics operation in-house from November. 10 June 2004
UK builders fight record price riseRising oil and steel prices pushed input cost inflation for UK builders to a record high in May. 10 June 2004
NHS targets medical goods and food with online driveThe NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (Pasa) is set to buy more commodities using online auctions in a deal with e-auction specialists TradingPartners. 10 June 2004
Government doubles card spending to £305 millionExpenditure on the Government Procurement Card (GPC) doubled last year and efficiency savings of £50 million were made, according to its annual report. 10 June 2004
OGC rejects criticism over savingsThe Office of Government Commerce has rejected criticism that its announcement of £1.6 billion in savings are inaccurate and that it took credit for savings that were not its doing (see <a href="http://www.supplymanagement.com/archiveitem.asp?id=10536" Target="_blank">Features</a>, 29 April). 10 June 2004
Universities urged to auction moreUniversity and college purchasers should use e-auctions more, according to the sector's procurement advisory body. 10 June 2004
Companies warm to doing deals on e-marketplacesOnline marketplaces have been slow to develop, but buyers and suppliers are starting to realise they offer real cost and quality gains, according to research backed by CIPS. 10 June 2004
£125m service fund for volunteersThe government has set up a £125 million fund to support voluntary and community groups that want to compete for public-sector contracts. 10 June 2004
Coca-Cola director joins recruiterSupply chain recruitment company Langley Search & Selection has created a new senior consultant role to keep pace with rising demand. 10 June 2004
Bray flies in to indirect post at aerospace firmGoodrich Corporation has appointed a new indirect buyer to reduce its supply base for indirect supplies by about 20 per cent. 10 June 2004
Hoteliers targeted with data management systemHotel developers and owners are the target market for a system that promises a single view of the outsourced procurement process of their global projects. 10 June 2004
LexisNexis's informed advantageLaw information company LexisNexis has launched a new resource designed to help procurement professionals reduce costs and business risks. 10 June 2004
Malone takes print and document role at JMCLManchester-based management consultancy JMCL has appointed John Malone to focus on print procurement and document management. 15 June 2004
Cawkwell leads plastics purchasingAnn Marie Cawkwell has been appointed to head Thompson Plastics' newly created group purchasing department. She will take on overall management of the whole group's buying process, consolidating teams in several locations in the UK. 24 June 2004
Former OGC chief takes deputy role at Premier FarnellSir Peter Gershon, the former head of the Office of Government Commerce, has joined Premier Farnell as deputy chairman. 24 June 2004
Councils demand postal voting dealLocal councils are calling on the government to set up a contract for purchasing ballot packs in the wake of Britain's largest experiment in all-postal voting. 24 June 2004
Colleges beat gas rise in e-auctionA university purchasing consortium has kept the rise in gas bills to below inflation in the sector's first e-auction for the commodity. 24 June 2004
NAO queries value of Tube deal after first 12 monthsThe National Audit Office has delivered a worrying report on the progress of the three London Underground public-private partnership (PPP) deals to improve the infrastructure of the Tube network. 24 June 2004
Racing car firm predicts GP victoryUK-based racing car maker Lola is confident that a robust supply chain will help its new 200-miles per hour-plus cars for an Asian grand prix series to run well in difficult conditions. 24 June 2004
Marketers remain wary of purchasing's involvementMarketing and purchasing professionals still have some way to go before they work more effectively together, according to the latest quarterly procurement survey from spend management company Ariba. 24 June 2004
Leaders centre to help councils buy manager trainingThe government's fledgling Leadership Centre for Local Government is to help councils buy training and management courses aimed at developing top-class managers. 24 June 2004
Small businesses struggle with staff travel policiesNine out of 10 medium-sized companies have travel and expense (T&E) policies in place but they struggle to make staff comply with them. 24 June 2004
Carbon trade to push up utility billsPurchasers face double-digit energy price hikes when the carbon emissions trading scheme comes starts on 1 January, according to a new report from consultancy Ernst & Young. 24 June 2004
Commercial builders lead record growthRising oil and shortages of raw materials drove up input price inflation for UK builders to yet another record high in June. 05 July 2004
Manufacturing sustains strong growthUK manufacturing continued its robust performance in June, according to the latest purchasing managers' index figures. 05 July 2004
Transport and IT cool strong services growthServices sector activity increased for a fifteenth successive month in June - encouraged by new business and a strong rise in marketing and advertising work. 05 July 2004
Purchasers' soft skill gaps revealedPurchasing professionals believe good interpersonal skills determine their department's success, but only half think their team possesses them, according to a survey conducted by SM. 08 July 2004
Firms urged to seek security helpTravel managers should not rely on Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advisories to determine security risks for their executives, according to a crisis management specialist. 08 July 2004
Supply chain costs are set to rise, managers warnYears of continuous cuts to supply chain costs are coming to an end, according to a new survey by consultancy AT Kearney and the European Logistics Association. 08 July 2004
OGC signs travel and retail contractsWhitehall is set to bring its annual £3 billion travel budget under a major framework agreement. 08 July 2004
Purchasing job cuts 'could backfire on savings plans'CIPS has warned that any cut in the number of public-sector purchasers could backfire on the government's savings targets. 08 July 2004
Sir John champions local suppliersA plea for purchasers to foster local suppliers was made by business commentator and ex-purchaser Sir John Harvey-Jones. 08 July 2004
Late payment law makes clients pay more promptlySuppliers have a better chance of being paid on time if they threaten to charge interest on overdue payments, a new report claims. 08 July 2004
Constant tendering 'not good for travel managers'The head of the Guild of Business Travel Agents (GBTA) has called for better relations between corporate travel managers and their outsourced travel management companies. 08 July 2004
Ipswich Town outsources cateringA football club in the Championship, formerly the first division, is looking to save at least 10 per cent of its annual budget by outsourcing some of its buying for the first time. 08 July 2004
Green named buying chief at PowysMike Green has been promoted to the newly established position of procurement and business manager for Powys County Council in Wales. 08 July 2004
Heeley joins FA's team as purchasing managerMarc Heeley has been appointed purchasing manager at the Football Association. He joins the London-based organisation after two-and-a-half years as a sourcing specialist at Prudential. 08 July 2004
Ulliot takes over at national charity Leonard CheshireBrian Ulliott has been appointed national purchasing manager for the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, a national charity for the disabled. 08 July 2004
We won't be 'supply chain Microsoft' pledges AribaThe newly merged Ariba and FreeMarkets supply chain solutions company will offer one-stop shopping for purchasers looking for information transparency, buy-in to procurement policies, technology and contracts, and help with driving through changes. 08 July 2004
GXS rolls out data transfer systemGlobal eXchange Services has introduced a system to automate the information that suppliers provide to their retail and manufacturing customers. 08 July 2004
Successful Northgate gets strategicNorthgate Information Solutions is setting up a strategic procurement department after the IT business solutions company grew by 60 per cent last year. 22 July 2004
Albion seeks combined IT system in NHS roleSt Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust is looking to implement a combined procurement and finance IT system, according to the newly appointed head of purchasing and supply. 22 July 2004
Edwards takes up purchasing post with SpecsaversCraig Edwards has joined retail optician Specsavers as purchasing manager. 22 July 2004
OECD urges tough action on briberyUK purchasers should pressure the government to collect information on foreign officials and companies that try to bribe them, according to a major international advisory body. 22 July 2004
M&S suppliers must cut pricesSuppliers to troubled high-street retailer Marks & Spencer face a bumpy ride in the aftermath of a failed hostile bid offer. 22 July 2004
Audits ineffective against irresponsible purchasingPoor purchasing practices continue to undermine corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and audits are ineffective, claims a new report. 22 July 2004
CSR Academy is open for businessPurchasers looking to set up corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies in their supply chains can now seek help from an advisory body. 22 July 2004
Chancellor counts on government buyers to deliver £6bn in savingsGordon Brown has asked government purchasers to deliver £6 billion in savings over the next four years in an effort to boost investment in front-line services. 22 July 2004
Local government targets branded 'unrealistic'Local government purchasing professionals have clashed with chief executives over whether chancellor Gordon Brown's savings could be achieved. 22 July 2004
Prepare to change internal processes, says UPS bossProcurement professionals buying in logistics have been warned they must be ready to change their own internal processes if they want their supply chains to remain competitive. 22 July 2004
Skills gap spoils public-private dealsA lack of skills in key areas is jeopardising projects launched under the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI), according to a survey. 22 July 2004
Summer growth in manufacturing activityThe growth in UK manufacturing activity accelerated in July, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) figures. 02 August 2004
Construction boom cools in JulyUK builders blamed delays between finishing current projects and starting new work for July's slower growth in the construction industry, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI). 03 August 2004
Interest rates brake services expansionJune's rise in interest rates made it harder for some UK services companies to win new business last month, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 04 August 2004
London 2012 goes green for OlympicsLondon 2012, organiser of London's Olympic bid, has signed up to the city's green procurement code to boost its corporate social responsibility credentials. 05 August 2004
Charities seek forum to win more government dealsThe Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) is calling for a forum of public-sector purchasers and charities to get more charities involved in government contracts. 05 August 2004
DPA denies 'culture of fear' claimThe Defence Procurement Agency has dismissed as "ridiculous" claims by MPs that it operates under a culture of fear. 05 August 2004
Water firm boosts purchasing remitSouthern Water has given its procurement team responsibility for the utilities firm's capital works projects, which are worth £2.1 billion. 05 August 2004
Council procurement leader targets savingsNorfolk County Council will focus on hard cash savings wherever possible as it puts together plans to meet chancellor Gordon Brown's spending review savings targets. 05 August 2004
Consultancy boss offers CSR skills advice to buyersPurchasers need high-quality communication skills when they develop a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, according to Jason Middleton, founder of new consultancy Aequalitas. 05 August 2004
Universities aim to boost marketplace with ImpaqHEeP, an e-procurement marketplace for the higher education sector, is to offer Impaq's purchase order management system to encourage more university suppliers to trade electronically. 05 August 2004
E-Warehouse targets small firmsSmall and medium-sized companies that want visibility and control of their supply chains are the target market for the latest application from UK-based company E-Warehouse. 05 August 2004
NHS tests outsourcing for logisticsThe NHS Logistics Authority faces outsourcing after a major Department of Health (DoH) report called for a cull of support service bodies. 05 August 2004
OGC chief defends review secrecyPublishing Gateway Reviews could destroy their usefulness as a tool to keep major government projects on time and within budget, according to the new boss of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). 05 August 2004
Barclays leads shortlist of 37 in purchasing awardsThirty-seven organisations have been shortlisted for the CIPS Supply Management Awards 2004, which recognise and celebrate purchasing excellence. 05 August 2004
Many-voiced McGowan set to entertain packed houseTV impressionist Alistair McGowan will host the CIPS Supply Management Awards presentation dinner in London this autumn. 05 August 2004
Standard Life seeks more auctions after paper cutsAsset management company Standard Life is considering more e-auctions after its first attempt saved 20 per cent on stationery and computer consumables. 05 August 2004
Software sales growing for first time in two yearsGlobal demand for supply chain management (SCM) software is growing for the first time in two years, a report from e-business analysts AMR Research suggests. 26 August 2004
Ticket service aids rail cost controlPurchasers wanting to manage the procurement of rail tickets are the target of an online service developed by travel agency Harry Weeks. 26 August 2004
Sex bias victim seeks £500k awardA woman former head of procurement is seeking £500,000 in compensation in what could be the largest award for a sex discrimination case outside the City. 26 August 2004
Online trial savings inspire mm02Telecoms firm mmO2 will conduct more e-auctions after pilot runs saved £4.5 million. 26 August 2004
Purchasers face 30% hike in gas and electricity billsElectricity and gas prices have risen by about 30 per cent for the major October round of contract negotiations and further rises are likely. 26 August 2004
Protests inflate green power pricesPurchasers face rising renewable energy prices if local authorities cave in to anti-wind farm pressure, according to the head of the CIPS energy committee. 26 August 2004
Escalating oil prices sow confusion on contractsPurchasers are being given conflicting advice about how to handle escalating oil prices. 26 August 2004
Finance chiefs cool on cutting purchasing costsFinance directors have little interest in cutting procurement costs, according to new research commissioned by purchase-to-pay specialist Burns e-Commerce Solutions. 26 August 2004
Barclays varies staff opportunitiesBarclays Bank has restructured its sourcing function to give purchasers more varied work and career opportunities. 26 August 2004
Managers win biggest rise as directors' pay shrinksPurchasing managers have had the biggest salary increase of all procurement professionals with an annual rise of 8.3 per cent to £64,949, according to the latest quarterly survey by recruitment consultant Purcon. 26 August 2004
UK leads Europe on offshore trendUK firms are leading in outsourcing to improve their supply chains, according to a report. 26 August 2004
Purchasing chief prepares for Prison Service reformsThe Prison Service is to update its entire purchasing operation as part of a major reorganisation of its administration. 26 August 2004
Hawkins to lead partnering surveyPartnership Sourcing Limited (PSL), the not-for-profit organisation that promotes strategic supply chain alliances, is planning a survey of successful partnering projects. 26 August 2004
Manufacturing growth slows in AugustThe growth in UK manufacturing activity slowed down in August, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) figures. 01 September 2004
Commercial builders lead expansionConstruction activity accelerated in August, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 02 September 2004
Services sector growth acceleratesUK services companies bucked the recent trend for slower growth in August, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 03 September 2004
Buyers warned on framework dealsBig public-sector purchasing deals could be illegal, a lawyer has warned. 09 September 2004
Auctioneers name purchasing chiefGary Robbins has been appointed to the new position of group procurement manager at British Car Auctions (BCA) as the company moves towards more centralised procurement. 09 September 2004
Warnock takes £5m role at insurance firmSamantha Warnock has been appointed senior procurement manager at Budget Insurance in a shake-up of the rapidly expanding group's buying practices. 09 September 2004
Sainsbury's hires director of supply to improve stockLawrence Christensen has been appointed director of supply chain at troubled supermarket giant Sainsbury's. 09 September 2004
Police set for centres of excellenceChief police officers have moved a step closer to creating centres of procurement excellence that could also include more national contracts for the service. 09 September 2004
Firms set to employ risk management specialistsLarge organisations may soon need a dedicated supply chain risk analyst because of the increasingly uncertain global business environment. 09 September 2004
Companies sought for change studyCardiff University is embarking on a major three-year research programme into how companies can maintain the momentum for change to improve performance. 09 September 2004
Government bids to make builders pay bills on timeThe government has set up a task force to investigate late payment problems in the construction sector. 09 September 2004
UK manufacturing growth slowsActivity grew in the British manufacturing sector for the fourteenth successive month in August, although growth slowed on the previous month, according to the latest CIPS/Reuters purchasing managers' index. 09 September 2004
Nine shortlisted for individual prizes in 2004Nine purchasers have been shortlisted in the two individual categories of this year's CIPS Supply Management Awards. 09 September 2004
Welsh task force aiming to boost small firms' chancesThe National Assembly for Wales is looking for ways to help local suppliers win more contracts from Welsh public-sector bodies. 09 September 2004
University purchasers target mergerThe Association of University Procurement Officers (Aupo) is seeking a merger with the sector's main funded procurement advisory organisation. 09 September 2004
Councils gear up for online car poolA fleet management software package designed for local councils will allow users to book vehicles online 24 hours a day. 09 September 2004
Government urged to publish reviewsA major parliamentary and industry pressure group is set to recommend that Gateway reviews, the government's main progress reports for major public-sector contracts, should be published. 23 September 2004
Partnering call for HolyroodA partnership approach to building the Scottish Parliament could have saved it from massive budget overruns, according to the Construction Industry Council (CIC). 23 September 2004
Courts' IT purchasing goes onlineCriminal Justice IT (CJIT) has made its first move towards e-procurement by implementing a web-based purchasing system. 23 September 2004
Female managers battle salary drop and gender gapWomen in purchasing have seen their salaries fall by an average of £880 over the past 12 months, according to the latest survey from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). 23 September 2004
WPP chief urges buyers to value brands over cost cutsPurchasers can play a major role in helping their companies to the top if they focus on building partnerships with advertising agencies and brand image. 23 September 2004
Short-term deals are norm in mediaAbout 42 per cent of media and creative contracts are assigned for less than two years, according to a new survey. 23 September 2004
Agencies seek talks to improve relationshipsThe head of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has called on purchasers, marketers and advertising agencies to form a think-tank to discuss how they can get better value from their relationships. 23 September 2004
Government slammed for PFI spending loopholesAn influential think-tank has criticised the government for making the private finance initiative more attractive than conventional public-sector procurement, even where it may not bring best value. 23 September 2004
Bridgend names Williams as first efficiency chiefHuw Williams has been appointed head of business efficiency and effectiveness at Bridgend County Borough Council in south Wales. 23 September 2004
Smiths reorganises for Rolls-Royce supply dealAircraft systems manufacturer Smiths Aerospace Components has reorganised its purchasing department and created three new category manager positions. 23 September 2004
Oracle adds services and contract features to suiteSoftware giant Oracle is rolling out two applications designed to tackle contracts and services in procurement, joining the other products in the Advanced Procurement software suite. 23 September 2004
Manhattan offers control to retailersManhattan Associates has launched a new application suite that aims to provide retailers with comprehensive control over the whole supply chain. 23 September 2004
Progressing into the public domainThe government is under pressure to open up the results of progress reports on major projects. David Arminas asks what the impact of publication would be 23 September 2004
Output holds firm as manufacturing growth loses paceSeptember's growth in the UK manufacturing economy was the slowest for more than a year, according to this month's purchasing managers' index (PMI). 01 October 2004
Construction growth gathers paceUK construction activity rose at the fastest rate since April last month, according to September's purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 04 October 2004
Services growth slows in SeptemberActivity rose again in the UK services sector in September but it was slower than the previous month, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 05 October 2004
Sopo chief sounds skills warningLocal authorities must improve their purchasing skills to meet the government's efficiency challenges, according to the first chief executive of the Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (Sopo). 07 October 2004
Logistics director sets new course on servicesLogistics providers will need to expand their services to stay ahead of the competition, according to the new managing director of ACR Logistics. 07 October 2004
Wakefield council appoints team to lead procurementWakefield Borough Council has appointed four people to head its new procurement department. 07 October 2004
CO2 levy on flights is 'unworkable'The Institute of Travel Management (ITM) has branded as unworkable a government proposal for a voluntary carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions levy on airline tickets. 07 October 2004
$50 barrels threaten UK firmsPurchasers can expect suppliers to demand more price hikes as energy costs continue to soar, according to the chairman of CIPS energy committee. 07 October 2004
Firms miss car savings by neglecting risk strategiesPurchasers should play a greater role in managing car fleet risks and costs for their staff, according to the author of a new report on fleet management. 07 October 2004
London doubles green purchasesSpending on recycled goods has risen sharply in London in the past year, a survey suggests. 07 October 2004
Spending review fears hamper public projectsUncertainty over how local authorities will meet the government's spending review savings is holding back large-scale projects, a left-leaning think-tank has warned. 07 October 2004
Purchasers urged to focus on sellingPurchasing is about selling, not buying, according to the group procurement director at drinks giant Diageo. 07 October 2004
Lloyds TSB seals consultancy deal to expand marketLloyds TSB is to merge its procurement-to-pay services for the public sector with purchasing consultancy Best Value Procurement (BVP). 07 October 2004
Closer ties with IT lead to improved spend analysisPurchasers should forge closer ties with their IT departments to make sure their systems work more effectively, according to a leading analyst. 07 October 2004
Ease is key to e-procurement useMany potentially successful e-procurement systems fail when they are deployed, delegates at the eWorld Purchasing and Supply conference were told. 07 October 2004
OFT highlights competition fearsBig public-sector purchasing deals will come under the spotlight in an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) following an inquiry into whether they could stifle competition among suppliers. 21 October 2004
Purchasing scores in Arsenal stadium dealEmirates' purchasing director played a key role in setting up the record £100 million sponsorship deal with Arsenal Football Club announced earlier this month. 21 October 2004
Purchasers told to grasp boardroom opportunityPurchasers have an opportunity to step into a new top-level job called a chief relationship officer (CRO), sitting beside the chief information officer and chief financial officer. 21 October 2004
Brady promotes staff involvementMotivating employees was among the top management priorities identified by football club boss Karren Brady in the closing speech of the conference. 21 October 2004
Global teams face practice barriersCreating a truly global purchasing team requires more than just an appreciation of different languages and time-zones, the conference heard. 21 October 2004
Most outsourcing failures flawed before they startThe causes of most major failed outsourcing projects go back to before they were outsourced. 21 October 2004
Hauliers fear for margins despite road charges helpHaulage customers are prepared to pay towards new road charges facing suppliers to receive more predictable delivery times, according to the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. 21 October 2004
Agencies to examine grant winnersThe new head of procurement for the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is set to examine the purchasing practices of companies that receive agency grants. 21 October 2004
Property firm appoints supply chain directorRok Property Solutions has taken on its first supply chain director to seek greater procurement efficiencies at more than 20 of its regional and local offices. 21 October 2004
Boots triumphs at 2004 awardsThe Boots Company has scooped the top prize at this year's CIPS Supply Management Awards. 21 October 2004
UK manufacturers enjoy rise in new orders and exportsRises in new orders at home and abroad helped the UK manufacturing sector to enjoy stronger growth in October amid soaring input price inflation, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI). 01 November 2004
Construction industry sees growth slowUK builders enjoyed another month of strong growth in October although it slowed on recent months, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 02 November 2004
Order books rise for services firmsAlmost a quarter of services companies in the UK said new orders rose in October on the month before, in the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 03 November 2004
Fire brigades target national dealsOutdated and inefficient purchasing across 46 English fire brigades is to be targeted by the first national procurement strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). 04 November 2004
BT steps up green power chargeBT has strengthened its corporate responsibility credentials with new contracts to use electricity produced by renewable or low-carbon sources. 04 November 2004
Gas purchasers urged to choose flexible contractsGas purchasers should abandon fixed-price contracts in favour of more flexible deals, according to a leading energy buyer. 04 November 2004
OGC backs 'open source' systemsGovernment departments could ditch proprietary software produced by giants such as Microsoft in favour of open source software (OSS), according to the Office of Government Commerce. 04 November 2004
Boots takes overall prize for key marketing projectThe Boots Company has scooped the top prize at this year's CIPS Supply Management Awards. 04 November 2004
Individuals win with communicationCommunication and drive were two of the crucial skills mastered by this year's individual winners. 04 November 2004
Sainsbury's blames profit warning on supply failuresAn overly sophisticated supply chain is driving Sainsbury's to the worst pre-tax result in its 135-year history. 04 November 2004
Crossrail seeks purchasing directorA new procurement director on a salary of £150,000 is set to be ap-pointed to the £10 billion London Crossrail project soon. 04 November 2004
CIPS president asks members to make CR pledgeCIPS's new president has challenged its 36,000 members to make a personal contribution to corporate responsibility over the next 12 months. 04 November 2004
NHS group adds buyers for £24m savings driveSurrey & Sussex NHS Supply Management Confederation has kick-started a £24 million savings drive with the appointment of six new project buyers. 04 November 2004
Council seeks greater co-ordinationSt Edmundsbury Borough Council has appointed a procurement and project manager to help co-ordinate its purchasing and drive efficiencies. 04 November 2004
E-sourcing firm appoints Lewis as project managerBeverley Lewis (above) has been appointed to e-sourcing consultancy e-Three as e-sourcing project manager. 04 November 2004
PeopleSoft aims to embed manufacturing changesChange programmes can be "embedded" within manufacturers with the launch of PeopleSoft's revamped EnterpriseOne supply chain tool, the company claims. 04 November 2004
Manhattan eases RFID introductionManhattan Associates claims users can introduce radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging quickly with a new system. 04 November 2004
Whitby takes helm as BAA expandsMichael Whitby has been appointed supply chain director at airports owner BAA as it embarks on a multi-billion pound construction programme. 18 November 2004
Helicopter firm looks to Johnson for savingsSteve Johnson, the new procurement manager for Europe at helicopter services company CHC Helicopter Corporation, is looking to save 3 per cent of its £200 million annual European goods and services budget within the next two years. 18 November 2004
Atherton leaves Met for £300m council groupSteve Atherton, double award-winning director of procurement at the Metropolitan Police, becomes the new director of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation next week. 18 November 2004
Gateway reviews not fully applied in big IT projectsThe government is falling down on its use of Gateway procurement reviews for its major IT projects, jeopardising the annual £2.3 billion spend. 18 November 2004
MoD criticised for £6bn deficitThe National Audit Office (NAO) has slammed procurement practices at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), whose costs on 20 major equipment projects slipped a further £1.7 billion to reach £6 billion over budget. 18 November 2004
Directors' bonuses suffer as buyers earn biggest risePurchasing directors' salaries were 6.3 percent lower in the fourth quarter of 2004 than a year earlier, according to the latest salary survey by recruitment consultant Purcon. 18 November 2004
NHS may lose drugs trials abroadThe NHS is in danger of pricing itself out of the clinical trials market, according to a leading industry body. 18 November 2004
Pharmaceutical firms aim to beat fraud with RFIDPharmaceutical firms are using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and barcode technologies to help uncover fraudulent and counterfeit medicines. 18 November 2004
Councils to use more central dealsLocal authority purchasers are expected to make greater use of central government framework agreements as they seek efficiency savings, according to a major government review. 18 November 2004
Force seeks renegotiation savingsCleveland Police plans to shave 3.5 per cent off its £10 million goods and services budget next year. 18 November 2004
Courts to cut reporter bill by £3.2m using e-auctionThe Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has used an e-auction to save more than 10 per cent a year off its £10 million annual budget for court reporters and transcription services. 18 November 2004
Companies weak on sustainabilityCompanies still show a "fundamental weakness" in their ability to identify and manage key social and environmental issues, according to a recent survey on corporate sustainability. 18 November 2004
BSA doubles reward for whistleblowers to £20kThe Business Software Alliance (BSA) in the UK has doubled to £20,000 the maximum reward it will pay people who report the use of illegal software. 18 November 2004
Manufacturers enjoy order boostAnother rise in new orders from home and abroad led to higher growth in the UK manufacturing sector in November, according to the latest purchasing managers' index. 01 December 2004
Services companies enjoy business boomUK services companies enjoyed a pre-Christmas boost with another rise in activity in November, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 02 December 2004
Supply chain CSR criteria unveiledThe government wants purchasers to ensure their companies fully understand the dangers and benefits surrounding corporate social responsibility (CSR). 02 December 2004
Sex case payout may be slashedA female purchaser who won a sex discrimination case may eventually get only half her hoped-for £500,000 award. 02 December 2004
Most big firms use supply as a 'strategic weapon'Most large companies now see purchasing and supply management as a "strategic weapon" whose value stretches beyond cost reduction, according to a soon-to-be-published benchmarking study. 02 December 2004
Nasa makes one giant step for purchasingNasa's procurement function is at the forefront of a major effort to shake up the US space agency, the conference heard. 02 December 2004
Xerox spreads Six Sigma messageApplying lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles in non-production purchasing has produced major benefits at Xerox. 02 December 2004
Universities challenged to step up cost saving effortsHigher education purchasers in England are still under pressure to cut costs despite a low efficiency savings target. 02 December 2004
End of line for Midlands consortiumThe Midlands Universities Purchasing Consortium (MUPC) has folded. 02 December 2004
UK firms' complacency is costing billions in lost workA legal expert has slammed UK firms for their complacent attitude towards European Union governments unfairly favouring their national suppliers. 02 December 2004
ECGD revises new corruption rulesThe Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) is defending the revision of its procedures to combat bribery and corruption. 02 December 2004
SunSystems tool to alert against maverick buyingAdvanced item-search capabilities, templates and catalogues are part of the new Internet Purchasing Ordering System (iPOS) from SunSystems. 02 December 2004
TXT platform to boost integrationTXT will launch a series of supply chain solutions, called Perform, at the beginning of 2005. 02 December 2004
Merger boosts procurement's roleDamon Jones plans to give procurement a bigger role in driving business change at the recently merged security solutions company, Group 4 Securicor. 02 December 2004
Pair land directorships at centres of excellenceWithin local government procurement, Dr Andrew Larner has been appointed director of the South East Centre of Excellence and Julian Morley has been appointed director of the South West Centre of Excellence. 02 December 2004
Dow's partnership experience to be key at Pilkington'sWarren Dow has been promoted to head of group procurement at ceramic tile maker and distributor Pilkington's Tiles Group in Manchester. 02 December 2004
Commercial builders lead activity chargeThe commercial building sector saw the fastest growth in eight months, according to November's purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. 03 December 2004
Treasury hands buyers the biggest cost saving targetProcurement will bear the brunt of the government's drive for £21.5 billion of efficiency savings by 2008, according to an OGC document for the Treasury. 16 December 2004
Police deal aids drink-driving purgeIf purchasers in the south west of England are unlucky enough to get breathalysed this Christmas, they can at least rest assured that best-practice procurement brought the units to the roadside. 16 December 2004
BBC buyers 'will not escape cull'Procurement at the BBC is in line for major efficiency savings and possible job cuts in the broadcaster's attempt to double its savings target. 16 December 2004
Purchasing guiding light in Walsall outsource dealThe procurement department at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council has helped to broker a partnership deal that will see more than 20 council functions outsourced, including procurement itself. 16 December 2004
Wales put the focus on sustainabilityWelsh Assembly finance minister Sue Essex urged delegates at the principality's first all-public-sector procurement conference to think about sustainable supply chains when tendering. 16 December 2004
Rangers man set to lead Scottish 'Gershon review'Scottish businessman John McClelland is to head a Gershon-style review of public-sector procurement in Scotland. 16 December 2004
Motor Show out to tender in value bidThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has put the British International Motor Show out to tender. 16 December 2004
Purchasing urged to seek innovation in supply chainThe chemicals industry has been urged to improve its supply chain knowledge and efficiencies or miss out on innovation, eventually losing competitiveness. 16 December 2004
It will be a supplier's world in 2005Purchasers must be exceptionally skilful in managing strategic supplier relationships if they want to avoid the problems of Japanese car firm Nissan. 16 December 2004
E.ON adds procurement managersE.ON UK, the organisation behind energy brand Powergen, has created two new manager roles within its procurement department as part of an overhaul of the function. 16 December 2004
Premier Farnell names supplier marketing leadMarianne Culver has been appointed to the new position of group director for global supplier marketing at electronics distributor Premier Farnell. 16 December 2004
Lakin set to begin efficiency drive in LincolnshireLincolnshire County Council has appointed its first corporate procurement manager to drive efficiencies and progress towards targets set in the government's national procurement strategy. 16 December 2004

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