ISM - Publications - Just In ETime - Just in ETime Newsletter, May 4, 2005





	Wednesday, May 4, 2005

In this issue...

April Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®: Business Activity at 61.7%. Read more.
JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI. Read more.
ISM Satellite Seminar Available on DVD. Read more.
One on One with Joseph A. Yacura. Read more.
ISM Professional Seminar Update — June Topics. Read more.
ISM Web Seminar: RFID Solutions for the Supply Management Professional. Read more.
One-Day Program Packs A Punch. Read more.
Term of the Day. Read more.
Contact Us. Read more.

April Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®: Business Activity at 61.7%

Business activity in the non-manufacturing sector increased in April 2005, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Ralph G. Kauffman, Ph.D., C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee and coordinator of the Supply Chain Management Program, University of Houston-Downtown. "Non-manufacturing business activity increased for the 25th consecutive month in April," Kauffman said. He added, "Business activity increased at a slower rate in April, as did new orders. While both of these key indicators decreased compared to March, they are still both at relatively high levels historically. This indicates business in the non-manufacturing sector continues at a strong pace in April but at a lower rate of increase. While the Prices Index declined in April, comments from members indicate that pressure from their suppliers to increase prices continues unabated."

To read the entire report click here.

JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI

Expansion of Global Manufacturing Sector Eased to Least Marked Since July 2003, as Growth in Output and New Orders Slowed Further.

In April, operating conditions in the global manufacturing sector improved at the least marked rate since July 2003, when the current twenty-two month upturn in the performance of worldwide industry started. This was highlighted by the Global Manufacturing PMI — a composite index produced by JPMorgan and NTC in association with ISM and IFPSM — posting 51.9, a figure indicative of only a moderate rate of overall improvement. The weaker trend in growth indicated by the PMI was largely the result of slower expansions in production, new orders and employment.

At the national level, the latest PMI data pointed to a disparity in the performances of the Eurozone, US and Japan. The US and Japan recorded the highest PMI readings of all nations in April. However, while this represented the sharpest improvement in Japanese manufacturing operating conditions for seven months, this was the lowest US PMI reading since July 2003. In a major development, the Eurozone PMI dropped below the critical no-change mark of 50.0 for the first time in over one-and-a-half years, with operating conditions deteriorating in Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

To read the entire JPMorgan press release click here.

ISM Satellite Seminar Available on DVD

Supply Chain Research Trends and Market Intelligence

Own this four-hour program on DVD and use it for employee training to create a more competitive supply network. Each order includes the Program Handbook — a valuable resource and reference.

$99 member/$129 nonmember + shipping and handling.

This offer is available for a limited time and ends May 16, 2005.

To order your copy click here.

One on One with Joseph A. Yacura

Each quarter the Journal of Supply Chain Management: A Global Review of Purchasing and Supply interviews an up and coming supply chain executive. The Winter 2005 issue of the Journal features an interview with Joseph A. Yacura, chief strategist and co-founder for Supply Chain Management, LLC, headquartered in New York, a consulting firm that specializes in providing "Total Cost and Supply Chain Management Solutions" to mid- and large-scale companies. Yacura has held numerous senior executive management positions — including operations, manufacturing, production control, strategic planning, finance, and supply chain management — at IBM, Pacific Bell, American Express and InterContinental Hotels Group.

Here's an excerpt from the Journal interview:

The Journal of Supply Chain Management: How do you define risk? How has the definition of risk changed in recent years?

Joseph A. Yacura: Risk, within the supply chain, can be defined as any variable that can affect the continuity of supply of a product or service. As a result, there are many variables that effect overall supply chain risk. In recent years the list has grown beyond the traditional supply chain concerns to include information security, product/service liability, etc. As companies become less and less vertically integrated, they have begun to outsource critical elements of their business processes and sources of their supplies. A company's risks are now compounded by the number of external providers they rely on to keep their businesses running and their customer needs satisfied. A significant amount of outsourcing of both manufacturing and services has been to low labor cost regions of the world. While companies benefit from lower labor costs, their risks increase substantially due to the political and economic instability in some of these regions. As a result, constant monitoring of political and economic conditions in these regions must occur in addition to the regular risk metrics.

To read the entire interview with Mr. Yacura click here.

ISM Professional Seminar Update — June Topics

Does your supply chain have you out on a limb? Register today for an ISM professional seminar and discover ways to improve your supply chain. From fundamentals through strategic positioning, find out how you can contribute to the success of your organization. Gain insight from these valuable topics coming in June:

Contract Writing Basics: What All the Ts and Cs Mean #4251
June 6 - June 7, 2005
Minneapolis, MN
Power Negotiations: Unlock Your Powers of Influence and Persuasion #4252
June 6 - June 8, 2005
Tempe, AZ
Fundamentals of Purchasing: The Building Blocks of World-Class Professionalism #4259
June 6 - June 8, 2005
New Orleans, LA
- #4253
  June 13 - June 15, 2005
  Washington, DC
- #4256
  June 22 - June 24, 2005
  Kansas City, MO
Purchasing and the Law: The Basics You Need to Succeed #4254
June 15 - June 17, 2005
Chicago, IL
Driving Down Costs through Cost/Price Analysis #4255
June 20 - June 21, 2005
San Diego, CA
Contract Writing for Purchasing and Supply Management: Beyond the Basics #4257
June 23 - June 24, 2005
Las Vegas, NV
Advanced Purchasing Techniques: Getting to the Next Level #4258
June 27 - June 28, 2005
San Diego, CA

Earn Continuing Education Hours and save $200 per person when you register 30 days or more in advance of the program start date. Save even more when you register online at www.ism.ws! To speak to a Customer Service Associate, call 800/888-6276 or 480/752-6276, extension 401.

To learn more about ISM's professional seminars or to search other great topics, dates and locations click here.

ISM Web Seminar: RFID Solutions for the Supply Management Professional

A follow-up session to ISM's previous Web seminar on how Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is revolutionizing business, ISM invites you to join us on Wednesday, May 18th for another one-hour program. This advanced session includes actual point solution case studies and solutions that have produced substantial ROIs in automotive, logistical and material handling applications. Although we will explore specific industries, the solutions presented apply in most manufacturing and logistics applications. This session is presented by Charlie Robertson, a supply chain consultant who holds an extensive background in purchasing, logistics, material control and finance.

Registration fees are $99 per individual or $179 for two or more attendees per connection. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

For more information or to register click here.

One-Day Program Packs A Punch

The Power of the Services Supply Chain: Strategies and Integration, June 2, 2005 at St. John's University on the Manhattan Campus, New York, NY. Minimize your time away from the office by attending this one-day event. Maximize your educational value by participating in every session. Sessions include:

Consume in Moderation: Strategies to Contain the Cost of Professional Services
Optimizing an Integrated On-Demand Supply Chain for Services
Gearing Up to Lower the Services Spend
Attacking Nontraditional Spend: How Tyco Is Sourcing Services

For more information on this program or to register online click here.

Term of the Day

Today's ISM Term of the Day is: SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE REPORT.

Definition: A record of supplier quality, delivery, and service performance, communicated to the supplier.

A different Term of the Day is posted on the ISM Home Page (www.ism.ws) each day -- 7 days a week. The Term of the Day is taken from the Glossary of Key Supply Management Terms.

ISM members can access the online Members Only Glossary of Key Supply Management Terms which includes terms from the private, public, and various industry sectors, and from a wide variety of sources. The Glossary can be browsed alphabetically, or searched by keyword.

To access the Glossary click here.

Help us update this Glossary! If you don't find the term or definition that you are looking for let us know. We will be updating the ISM Glossary in the coming months, and your input will be useful for the new edition. To contact us regarding the Glossary, e-mail: surveys@ism.ws