Features

Summer 2006

Developing the super supplierAdvanced collaborative relationships are still rare, but they offer real competitive advantage - and CPOs should be leading the search
Who's in the driving seat?As traditional boundaries between purchasing and logistics blur, there is an emerging contest for leadership of the supply chain
Breaking through the barriersCollaborative relationships with suppliers don't just happen; they demand a concerted effort to change people's attitudes and behaviour
Waking a sleeping sectorHigh-performing purchasing and supply management functions in banks excel in seven key areas. It's time more banks woke up to the value they add
Territorial claimsThe CPO of Axa, the world's biggest insurance company, talks about the challenges of transforming procurement without central control
A perfect matchLean Six Sigma techniques can drive real improvements in supplier relationship management projects, and deliver significant business results
Thinking outside the boxCPOs can help their firms escape the clutches of patent-protected monopolistic suppliers using a process called 'invention on demand'
Click to payProcurement has been slow to embrace electronic invoicing and payment solutions, but the prize - lower costs and greater compliance - is worth having