Price are Down!

Titanium demand collapse will depress prices through 2010
TITANIUM demand has collapsed this year and the market price for benchmark aerospace ingot is almost 70% off its peak and probably at its cyclical bottom. And, according to news reports from the International Titanium Association's recent annual conference, there's little indication of a major upturn in purchasing or pricing anytime soon.
Read more.........

Molybdenum prices are sliding backwards
Spot prices dip due to uncertain demand trend from steelmakers
Although U.S. steelmaking is close to 60% of capacity, market prices for molybdenum, a key alloying smelting metal, has slipped to an average $14.55/lb this month (from $16.18 in July) and could be selling by a dollar or more cheaper next month. Read more......


Aluminum prices are being depressed by excess supply

World aluminum prices have slipped to an average 83¢/lb this month, bringing the annual average down to 70¢ (from $1.17 in 2008) as demand remains soft and global stocks are at record highs of 5.8 million metric tons

Ferrovanadium prices are slipping

The alloying metal was selling as low as $7.40/lb in April because of a serious overhang of inventory and collapsed demand from specialty steelmakers. Prices inched back up from May to August in line with reduced stockpiles caused by expanded exports and slow and gradual improvement in purchases by the domestic steel companies. Read more......

So KRAFT is planning a Cleanup?

First they make an offer on Cadbury's now they decide to have a clean up. Of what? Their supplier base. Read more about it as found in Supply Excellence.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) - a strategic approach

Most manufacturers agree SRM is important – but do not understand what it really is?
Many see it as a mechanism for monitoring and improving suppliers' performance. This contrasts with the broader definition of SRM as 'a discipline of working collaboratively with those suppliers that are vital to the success of your organization, to maximise the potential value of those relationships.

This misconception may explain why many believe SRM only starts once a contract is signed. It should, however, be used at every stage of the procurement process.
Key suppliers critical to your business should be as important as your customer. Your success demends very much on him

Before you even identify a materials need, good relations with a strategic suppliers could help by bringing innovative ideas to you. These could result in efficiency or real cash savings, product improvements or faster times to market

For example General Motors has just announced plans to split cost savings evenly with vendors that submit successful ideas on cutting the cost of car parts.

Get your existing suppliers involved as part of a cross-functional team. “
Explore how your suppliers supply chains works, especially if you’re attempting something new. Failing to do this could make things unnecessarily difficult for the supplier and potentially add in cost for your company.

Experts advise purchasers consider approaching negotiations with strategic suppliers with one eye on the implementation stage. If you pressure vendors hard for a price cut and make tough, changing demands one day then begin working with them the next, they will not be quick to forget how you treated them.

If you come out of a negotiation being aggressive, with you beating them up one day and beginning to work with them the next it’s counter-intuitive.

Finally, implement your deal and continue to work with key suppliers, forever looking for ideas and innovation that lead to improvements for you both. Remember it is a Win Win solution we want. Have mutual respect for each other