News Archive

April 26, 2011 7:15 pm: The effects of Japan’s devastating tsunami and nuclear crisis are starting to be felt by India’s fast-growing automobile sector. However, production cuts in India by Honda and Toyota represent a golden opportunity for manufacturers that are not dependent on Japanese car parts. read more

New Delhi April 27, 2011, 0:22 IST: India’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, has put in place a new strategy to reduce its dependence on Japan for auto parts. It will source parts from new geographies such as Thailand and Germany, and hopes the move will help it save five to 10 per cent on the [...]

DALLAS, April 25, 2011:Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today reported first quarter 2011 results and updated its expectations for full-year 2011 adjusted earnings per share and related key planning assumptions. Included were details of their FORCE cost savings programs designed to leverage their global procurement organization and continuous improvement capabilities. The benefits will be more visible [...]

Gross margin increased 18.5% to $273.6 million, primarily from strategic sourcing, solid inventory allocation, effective retail price management and strong sell-through of products, which minimized markdowns.

Apr 21, 2011 12:01 AM GMT : Repairing supply chains frayed by Japan’s earthquake and surging fuel prices may provide a further spur to business investment powering global economic growth. read more

Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, has said it will close its UK plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire for two days each week in May to manage the current shortage of car parts. read more

NEW YORK, April 19 – General Motors Co (GM.N) has a better grasp of how to handle disruptions in its global network of suppliers, said GM’s chief executive, who also reiterated the automaker’s outlook for vehicle sales this year. CEO Dan Akerson said on Tuesday ensuring that shortages do not disrupt GM’s supply chain is [...]

PARIS—PSA Peugeot-Citroen said Wednesday it expects that lower production triggered by supply bottlenecks in Japan last month will have a negative impact of €150 million ($215 million) on its automobile division’s first-half operating profit, but reaffirmed its overall earnings forecast for the full year. read more

SEATTLE | Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:58pm EDT: (Reuters) – Companies around the world, from the makers of cars to electronics, are finding it more difficult every day to get crucial parts for their products after Japan’s earthquake and tsunami wrecked supply chains, and investors worry that the worst is yet to come for earnings. [...]

PepsiCo looks to be centralizing a significant portion of its media and marketing procurement functions. In an internal memo obtained by Ad Age, Grace Puma, senior vice-president and chief procurement officer, detailed changes within PepsiCo’s advertising and marketing sourcing team, and highlighted the creation of a Center of Excellence (COE) for advertising and marketing. read [...]