bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Less favourable climates constrain demographic strategies in plants
Authors: Csergő Anna M. , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto , Broennimann Olivier , Coutts Shaun R. , Guisan Antoine , Angert Amy L. , Welk Erik , Stott Iain , Enquist Brian J. , McGill Brian , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Violle Cyrille , Buckley Yvonne M.
Published: June 2017

Correlative species distribution models are based on the observed relationship between species’ occurrence and macroclimate or other environmental variables. In climates predicted less favourable populations are expected to decline, and in favourable climates they are expected to persist. However, little comparative empirical support exists for a relationship between predicted climate suitability and population performance. We found that the performance of 93 populations of 34 plant species worldwide – as measured by in situ population growth rate, its temporal variation and extinction risk – was not correlated with climate suitability. However, correlations of demographic processes underpinning population performance with climate suitability indicated both resistance and vulnerability pathways of population responses to climate: in less suitable climates, plants experienced greater retrogression (resistance pathway) and greater variability in some demographic rates (vulnerability pathway). While a range of demographic strategies occur within species’ climatic niches, demographic strategies are more constrained in climates predicted to be less suitable.
Prevalence of headshaking within the equine population in the UK
Authors: Ross S. E. , Murray J. K. , Roberts V. L. H.
Published: June 2017

Reason for performing study

Headshaking in horses has been reported to be most commonly due to idiopathic neuropathic facial pain (trigeminal‐mediated headshaking). The prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK is unknown.

Objectives

To estimate owner‐reported prevalence of headshaking in horses in the UK and to report their case background and disease characteristics, as reported by owners.

Study design

Cross‐sectional web based owner questionnaire.

Methods

The questionnaire was advertised online via social media, horse forums, veterinary websites and equestrian magazines from 17th June 2016, until >1000 responses had been obtained. All UK horse owners were eligible to complete the questionnaire, however only one questionnaire could be completed per owner.

Results

The estimated prevalence of owner‐reported headshaking in the sample population of horses (n = 1014), within the last year, was 4.6% (95% confidence interval 3.5–6.1), whereas 6.2% (95% confidence interval 4.9–7.9) of horses were reported by their owners to have shown signs of headshaking at any time‐point since ownership. There was no association of sex or breed. Nineteen percent of headshaking horses were reported to show headshaking at rest. Fewer than one‐third (30.2%, n = 19) of headshaking horses had been examined by a veterinarian for headshaking. Of horses seen by a veterinarian, the cause for headshaking remained unknown in the majority of cases (57.9% responses) and trigeminal‐mediated headshaking was reported as a diagnosis in just one case.

Main limitations

The accuracy in data reporting by horse owners was not verified in this study. There may be a potential for bias towards over‐reporting due to the nature of survey participation.

Conclusions

Within this sample, owner‐reported prevalence of signs of headshaking within the last year, in horses in the UK was 4.6%. Over two‐thirds of owners of headshaking horses did not seek veterinary intervention for headshaking. Trigeminal‐mediated headshaking was rarely reported by owners as a diagnosis.
Investigation of bird strike events on composite wing panels
Authors: Diamantakos I. , Fotopoulos K. , Jamin M. , Eberhardt A. , Lampeas G.
Published: June 2017

One of the most important events during an aircraft's service life is the impact of a bird (ie, bird strike), which could possibly lead to catastrophic failure. According to airworthiness authorities, compliance of an aircraft structure to bird‐strike certification specifications can potentially be proved by simulation. In the present work, combined experimental and numerical investigations are performed, aiming to provide a validated numerical simulation tool for the certification of a composite leading edge structure. To increase the numerical simulation efficiency, the stacked shell approach in the frame of the finite element method is adopted. Comparison of numerical and experimental results shows that the proposed methodology is very promising for the simulation of impact events on complex composite structures. The proposed methodology has been applied for the development of a numerical tool for the simulation of bird strike on a composite leading edge structure.
Quantification of different effects occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures
Authors: Phan Cong Viet , Di Benedetto Hervé , Sauzéat Cédric , Dayde Josselin , Pouget Simon
Published: June 2017

Quantification of different effects (nonlinearity, heating, thixotropy, and fatigue) occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures is presented in this paper. A focus is given on the nonlinearity phenomenon.

Continuous fatigue tests and a test with specific protocol (called fatigue tests to estimate biasing effects) were performed in tension/compression mode on cylindrical samples of the same material. The analysis of results reveals that reversible effects (nonlinearity, heating, and thixotropy) are important (more than 90% decrease at 100,000 cycles for a strain amplitude of 100 μm/m at 10 Hz) and cannot be ignored when interpreting classical fatigue tests. The nonlinearity effects respect the time‐temperature superposition principle, and they are more pronounced at “high” temperature (at the same frequency). Direction of nonlinearity curve in the Cole‐Cole axes is shown to be independent of temperature and frequency for the considered range.
Influence of strain range on fatigue life reduction of stainless steel in PWR primary water
Authors: Kamaya Masayuki
Published: June 2017

The environmental effect in the pressurized water reactor (PWR) water was investigated for various applied strain range using a type 316 stainless steel. The tests were conducted using cylindrical hollow specimens at 325°C. It was shown that the ratio of the fatigue life in the PWR water environment to that in air was about 0.3 to 0.4 regardless of the strain range when the applied strain ranges were 0.8% or more. Crack growth rates identified from spacing of striations observed on fractured surfaces were used to demonstrate that the fatigue life reduction in the PWR water environment could be attributed to the crack growth acceleration. The fractured surface observations revealed that crack initiation was enhanced by the PWR water environment. On the other hand, the reduction in the fatigue life was not significant when the strain ranges were 0.5% and 0.44%, and the specimens did not fail when the strain ranges were 0.38% or less. It was deduced that the crack initiation was not enhanced for the relatively small strain range, and the crack growth was not accelerated. Since the fatigue limit of the test material was 0.4% in the strain range in air, it was concluded that the fatigue limit was not reduced in the PWR water environment.
Developing Potentiometric Surfaces and Flow Fields with a Head‐Specified MODFLOW Model
Authors: Abrams Daniel B. , Roadcap George S. , Mannix Devin
Published: June 2017

Investigating changes in an aquifer system often involves comparison of observed heads from different synoptic measurements, generally with potentiometric surfaces developed by hand or a statistical approach. Alternatively, head‐specified MODFLOW models, in which constant head cells simulate observed heads, generate gridded potentiometric surfaces that explicitly account for Darcy's Law and mass balance. We developed a transient head‐specified MODFLOW model for the stratified Cambrian‐Ordovician sandstone aquifer system of northeastern Illinois to analyze flow within its 275 m deep cone of depression. Potentiometric surfaces were developed using static heads from production wells regardless of open interval; hence assuming no vertical head difference. This assumption was tested against steady‐state, head‐specified models of each sandstone strata for 1980 and 2014. The results indicate that the original conceptual model was appropriate in 1980 but not 2014, where a vertical head difference had developed at the center of the cone of depression. For earlier years, when the head difference was minimal, the transient head‐specified model compared well with a traditional, flow‐specified model. In later years, the transient head‐specified model overestimated removal of water from storage. MODFLOW facilitates the development of a time‐series of potentiometric surfaces and can easily be modified to test the impacts of different conceptual models, such as assumptions on vertical head differences. For this study of a deep confined aquifer, MODFLOW also offers advantages in generating potentiometric surfaces and flow fields over statistical interpolation techniques, although future research is needed to assess its performance in other settings.
Commencement of cardioselective beta‐blockers during hospitalisation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Neef Pieter A. , Burrell Louise M. , McDonald Christine F. , Irving Louis B. , Johnson Douglas F. , Steinfort Daniel P.
Published: June 2017

Background

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and co‐morbid cardiovascular disease, emerging evidence suggests a benefit in commencing cardioselective beta‐blockers.

Aim

Our objective was to determine the safety of beta‐blocker commencement during hospitalisation for acute exacerbation ofCOPD.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 1071 patients hospitalised for acute exacerbation ofCOPDwas conducted across two tertiary hospitals over a 12‐month period. We identified 36 patients in whom beta‐blocker therapy was commenced during admission. The primary outcome of the study was to assess cardiovascular and respiratory adverse events related to the commencement of beta‐blocker therapy.

Results

The most common indications for beta‐blockers were atrial fibrillation (53%) and acute coronary syndrome (36%). Metoprolol was the most commonly prescribed beta‐blocker (75%). No patients suffered clinically significant declines of respiratory function following the commencement of a beta‐blocker, including worsening respiratory symptoms, oxygen, bronchodilator or ventilation requirements. These results were demonstrable in patients with reversible airways disease and advancedCOPD. Only one patient (2.8%) experienced symptomatic hypotension after 48 h of therapy.

Conclusion

The commencement of cardioselective beta‐blockers during acute exacerbations ofCOPDappears to be well‐tolerated.
The Dynamics of Currency, Savings, and Investment Rates
Authors: Ayadi Mohamed A. , Ben Omrane Walid , Lazrak Skander , Yang Jie
Published: June 2017

This paper examines the dynamic relations among foreign exchange rates, savings, and investment ratio for a sample of 25 countries from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We find that the savings rate and the investment rate are cointegrated of order (1, −1). This result is consistent with the literature on the savings–investment relations and therefore confirms the validity of the Feldstein–Horioka puzzle. Using country‐specific and longitudinal panel vector autoregressive models, we show that historical savings–investment differentials do not help explain foreign exchange rates. We demonstrate, however, that foreign exchange rates and trade balance ratio impact the difference between savings and investments. Specifically, depreciation in the domestic currency would cause the savings–investment difference to widen.
Book Reviews
Authors: Boyes Rodney
Published: June 2017

SUPPLY AND COMPETITION IN MINOR METALS BY DAVID B. BROOKS (Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1966. 147 pages. $3.00)
Book Reviews
Authors: Nordstrom Joseph A.
Published: June 2017

PLANNING AND CONTROL WITH PERT/CPM By RICHARD I. LEVIN AND CHARLES A. KIRKPATRICK (New York: McGraw‐Hill Book Company, 1966. 179 pages. $6.95; $3.25 in paperback)
Book Reviews
Authors: Stintzi Vernon L.
Published: June 2017

THE PURCHASING SYSTEM By WILBUR B. ENGLAND (Homewood, Illinois: Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1967. 156 pages. $3.35 [Textbook, $2.50])
Book Reviews
Authors: Boyes Rodney L.
Published: June 2017

TRENDS IN THE WORLD ALUMINUM INDUSTRY BY STERLING BRUBAKER (Baltimore, Maryland: Published for Resources for the Future, Inc., by The Johns Hopkins Press, 1967. 260 pages. $6.95.)
Book Reviews
Authors: Cox Kenneth
Published: June 2017

MATERIALS MANAGEMENT By DEAN S. AMMER (Homewood, Illinois: Richard D. Irwin, Inc., Revised edition, 1968. 607 pages. $8.95.)
Book Reviews
Authors: Pooler Victor H.
Published: June 2017

VALUE ANALYSIS By W. L. GAGE (London: McGraw‐Hill Publishing Company Limited, 1968. 186 pages. $9.95.)
Book Reviews
Authors: Philippakis Andreas S.
Published: June 2017

INDUSTRIAL LOGISTICS: ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PHYSICAL SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, By JOHN F. MAGEE, (New York: McGraw‐Hill Book Company, 1968. 346 pages. $11.50)
Book Reviews
Authors: Decker Russell
Published: June 2017

LAW FOR EXECUTIVES By RUSSELL F. MOORE (editor) (New York, New York: American Management Association Inc., 1968. 294 pages. $12.75)
Book Reviews
Authors: Henderson Robert D.
Published: June 2017

ALUMINUM — PROFILE OF AN INDUSTRY by Philip Farin and Gary G. Reibsamen (New York: Metals Week, McGraw‐Hill, Inc., 1969. 172 pp. Single copy on request)
Book Reviews
Authors: Affleck Gordon Burt
Published: June 2017

AFFLUENCE IN JEOPARDY: MINERALS AND THE POLITICAL ECONOMY By Charles F. Park, Jr., in collaboration with Margaret C. Freeman (San Francisco: Freeman, Cooper and Company, 1968. 368 pp. $9.50)
Book Reviews
Authors: Maricle Kenneth E.
Published: June 2017

LEASING IN INDUSTRY, By HENRY G. HAM EL, (New York, New York: National Industrial Conference Board, Inc., Business Policy Study No. 127, 1968. 111 pages. $3.50 to Associates, $17.50 to non‐Associates)
Book Reviews
Authors: Fearon Harold E.
Published: June 2017

A PRIMER ON BUSINESS FORECASTING By LEONARD S. SILK and M. LOUISE CURLEY (New York: Random House, 1970. 144 pages. $2.50, paperback)
Book Reviews
Authors: Budesky John M.
Published: June 2017

HANDBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL PURCHASING By PAUL H. COATES (Boston, Mass.: Cahners Books, 1971. 168 pages. $9.50)
Book Reviews
Authors: England Wilbur B.
Published: June 2017

COMMODITY FUTURES AS A BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TOOL By HENRY B. ARTHUR George M. Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business, Emeritus, at the Harvard Business School (Boston, Mass.: Division of Research, Harvard Business School, 1971. 392 pages. $10.00)
Book Reviews
Authors: Fearon Harold E.
Published: June 2017

MANAGING MATERIALS IN INDUSTRY By PETER BAILY and DAVID FARMER (Epping, Essex, United Kingdom: Gower Press, 1972. 341 pages. 5.75 Pounds)
Book Reviews
Authors: Monczka Robert
Published: June 2017

INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR MODERN MANAGEMENT By ROBERT G. MURDICK and JOEL E. ROSS (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice‐Hall, Inc., 1971. 572 pages. $11.95)
Book Reviews
Authors: Ruch William A.
Published: June 2017

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 14TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN PRODUCTION AND INVENTORY CONTROL SOCIETY, (Washington, D.C.: American Production and Inventory Control Society, 1971. 306 pages. $20.00)
Book Reviews
Authors: Hahn James D.
Published: June 2017

READINGS IN MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, (Chicago: American Hospital Association, 1974. 91 pages. $3.25)
Book Reviews
Authors: Fearon Harold
Published: June 2017

THE NEGOTIATOR: A MANUAL FOR WINNERS, By ROYCE A. COFFIN, (New York: AMACOM, A Division of American Management Associations, 1973. 160 pages. Members, $6.50, Non‐members, $7.95)
Book Reviews
Authors: Soza Carlos V.
Published: June 2017

ESSENTIALS OF PURCHASING, By ALFRED H. BORNEMANN, (Columbus, Ohio: Grid Inc., 1974. 177 pages. $6.50)
Book Reviews
Authors: Hauck Warren C.
Published: June 2017

PURCHASING AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT. Leenders, M. R., H. E. Fearon and W. B. England. (Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1980; $20.00, 7th Ed., 582 pages.)
Book Review
Authors: Reck Ross R.
Published: June 2017

PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT: STRATEGY, ORGANIZATION, AND DECISION‐MAKING E. Raymond Corey (Boston, Mass., CBI Publishing Co.)
Book Review
Authors: Page Harry Robert
Published: June 2017

DEVELOPMENTS IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACT LAW—1978, Marshall J. Doke, Jr. (Editor), American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law, 1981. Copies available from American Bar Association, 1155 East 60th Street, Chicago, Ill. 60637.
Book Review
Authors: Beckert C. Norman
Published: June 2017

PURCHASING AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, by Joseph L. Cavinato, West Publishing Company, 1984.
Book Review
Authors: Mooney Richard L.
Published: June 2017

THE QUEST FOR STAFF LEADERSHIP, by Geoffrey M. Bellman, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, Illinois, 1986.
Single Sourcing: A Management Tool for the Quality Supplier
Authors: Treleven Mark
Published: June 2017

Single sourcing is a purchasing policy that purportedly can produce significant benefits for both parties involved. This article takes a close look at the pros and cons of single sourcing, particularly from the perspective of the vendor. It is important that buyers understand the factors that are likely to motivate a vendor to enter into this type of relationship. With this understanding, a buyer is better prepared to explore the possibility of single sourcing arrangements with selected vendors.
Book Review
Authors: Yeoman Brian K.
Published: June 2017

SELF‐ASSESSMENT GUIDE, by Richard L. Mooney, National Association of Educational Buyers, Woodbury, New York, 1985.
Countertrade: Another Horizon for Purchasing
Authors: Norquist Warren E.
Published: June 2017

“Countertrade” is a term that refers to any transaction in which payment is made at least partially with goods rather than money. Countertrade “deals” can be mundane or unusual–Japanese cows exchanged for Chinese hogs, or Swedish entertainers exchanging a concert tour for Polish coal. An increasing number of countries now demand countertrade as part of the requirement for doing business. With the number and the variety of countertrade deals growing, purchasing departments are becoming important players in this new international business game. Purchasing expertise frequently is required, along with marketing expertise, in putting together a profitable countertrade package for the American firm.
Supplier Selection Strategies
Authors: Soukup William R.
Published: June 2017

The supplier selection decision can often be handled in a relatively routine fashion, either because there is little likelihood of the buyer's making an error, or because an error would not seriously impact performance. Under certain conditions, however, there is a relatively high probability that an inappropriate supplier will be selected and that such an error will adversely affect the buyer.

When the assumptions on which purchase order requirements are based prove faulty, it may be necessary to change quantities, delivery rates, design specifications, or other important terms of the contract. Even though the selected supplier was best able to meet the terms of the original purchase order, it may not be the best choice for the modified contract.

This article presents a methodology for analyzing such situations, for developing and explicitly specifying alternative supplier selection strategies, and for implementing those strategies.
JIT Purchasing: Impact of Freight and Inventory Costs
Authors: Ansari A. , Heckel Jim
Published: June 2017

One of the most important facets of just‐in‐time purchasing is the concept of inventory reduction. Many American managers, however, expect that they will lose in additional freight costs what they save from inventory reduction. This article corrects that misconception. Buyers can reduce total costs if they select the parts to be scheduled for frequent delivery wisely. The authors outline a strategy for selecting these parts and their delivery frequency. Empirical research from four U.S. firms using the JIT purchasing concept supports this strategy.
Purchasing and Profit: Contributions Worth Measuring
Authors: Beidelman Kevin
Published: June 2017

The author looks at purchasing as a profit center. He contends that the role of the purchasing department as a profit center can be demonstrated by the creation of a program that measures buyer and supplier contributions to profit—and quantifies the results in a summary report to management.
Personal Factors In the Purchasing/Engineering Interface
Authors: Anklesaria J. , Burt David N.
Published: June 2017

The relationship between buyers and design engineers during the development of a new product exerts a strong influence on the finished product's quality and, hence, its ability to achieve market share. Equally important is the impact this relationship has on the product's cost and its contribution to a firm's profit. There is a widely held belief that a buyer's technical knowledge and “people skills” play a key role in the success of this purchasing‐engineering interface.

This article investigates personal characteristics and experiences of buyers who interface with design engineering personnel in an effort to identify variables that correlate with successful relations. The results of the study should assist purchasing managers in selecting and developing appropriate training for individuals who have the potential to interface successfully with design personnel.
Effective Buyers: Are They Cunning or Cooperative?
Authors: Dion Paul A. , Banting Peter M.
Published: June 2017

A study of three hundred and two buyers in mid‐western firms revealed that, overall, successful purchasing performance is independent of the ability to negotiate price concessions. These results refute the findings of several earlier research studies with respect to the relationship of Machiavellianism and successful buying performance. In contrast with previous findings, this study found that buyers who were less Machiavellian than the average individual were perceived to be the most successful. High performing buyers were highly motivated, satisfied with their jobs, and certain of what constituted good performance.
Price Analysis For Negotiation
Authors: Newman Richard G. , Scodro Joseph
Published: June 2017

In this article the authors use published industry data and the supplier's annual report and 10‐K report to estimate the various components of price. This type of pre‐negotiation analysis helps a buyer in finding those areas where a seller can afford to make price concessions without compromising product integrity.
Determining Performance Appraisal Criteria For Buyers
Authors: Hendrick Thomas E. , Ruch William A.
Published: June 2017

To address the question, How do you measure buyer performance?, this study produces an operationally straightforward approach for determining performance appraisal criteria for buyers. Criteria preferences captured from suppliers, internal customers of buyers, procurement managers, and buyers themselves are combined into a set of weighted performance criteria.

The approach is used in a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturer and proves to be effective and efficient in generating relevant performance criteria. While the results are specific to this organization, they provide insight into the development of a more generic set of performance appraisal criteria for buyers in any organization. Further, the approach is believed to be applicable for determining performance appraisal criteria for other knowledge workers in internal service functions of the organization.
Negotiating Quantity Discounts Using A “Learning Curve Style” Analysis
Authors: Teplitz Charles J.
Published: June 2017

In the procurement of certain items, manufacturing components for instance, a buyer may find him or herself in the position of having to contract with a vendor for a custom item meeting certain specifications. In response, the vendor often provides a pricing schedule that permits reduced prices if items are purchased in specified quantities. Under a situation of recurring need, the buyer could possibly order more units at a time, taking advantage of a lower unit price, thereby reducing total procurement costs. The buyer who is limited to a fixed need, however, may be restricted to one price: that associated with the quantity to be purchased. This article describes a negotiating tool that can help in obtaining a lower price per unit than originally offered by the vendor. The applicability of this tool is demonstrated in the context of three different vendor cost structures: (1) decreasing variable costs only; (2) fixed costs plus decreasing variable costs; and (3) fixed costs plus constant variable costs.
Managing Volatile Exchange Rates In International Purchasing
Authors: Carter Joseph R. , Vickery Shawnee K.
Published: June 2017

Volatile exchange rates impact the price paid for imported materials when payment is in the supplier's currency and there is a lag between the time the contract is signed and payment is made. Depending on the direction of the exchange rate movement, in the final analysis a buyer may pay substantially more or less than the original contract price. The currency used for foreign purchases may be the buyer's, the supplier's, or possibly the currency of a third country. This decision can impact total purchase costs over the life of a contract. This article explores foreign exchange rate issues in international purchasing, and describes the results of an empirical study of exchange rate management techniques used by selected U.S. manufacturers.
Purchasing and Product Liability
Authors: Adams Ronald J. , Browning John M.
Published: June 2017

Product liability is the responsibility of a manufacturer or seller for injury caused by a product. Both industrial and consumer goods organizations can “purchase liability” and increase organizational vulnerability in today's uncertain legal environment. A definite need exists for federal product liability reform, and purchasing should assume a proactive posture in lobbying for change in today's legal environment. In the interim, there are a variety of interrelated strategies available to purchasing managers that can serve to reduce the organization's vulnerability to product liability actions.
The Buyer‐Supplier Relationship in Total Quality Management
Authors: Lascelles D. M. , Dale B. G.
Published: June 2017

This article reports on the main barriers that hinder the development of an effective buyer‐supplier relationship in quality management. The findings are based on questionnaire data obtained from 300 United Kingdom‐based suppliers to 3 major customers in the automotive industry, and on fieldwork carried out in buyer and supplier organizations. The barriers identified include poor communication and feedback, supplier complacency, buyers having poorly defined and unstructured supplier quality improvement programs, the credibility of buyers as perceived by their suppliers, and misconceptions regarding purchasing power.
Single Sourcing: Short‐Term Savings Versus Long‐Term Problems
Authors: Newman Richard G.
Published: June 2017

Single sourcing, the purposeful process of selecting and using one source of supply, has gained widespread acceptance in U.S industry. The practice is based on a cooperative relationship between the buyer and the seller. Underlying this relationship may be a series of concerns that can generate problems in the long run. The continued emphasis on cost reductions in the short run may be laying the groundwork for stifled innovation and source dependency in the long run. Purchasing must take a proactive role in reducing the risks associated with the current practice of single sourcing.
A Comparison of Blanket and Systems Contracts
Authors: Noordewier Thomas G.
Published: June 2017

Blanket and systems contracts are commonly used to procure repetitively needed materials and supplies. The author reports the results of a study in which the structural and performance features of these contractual devices are empirically examined. As expected, blanket and systems buying arrangements differ structurally with respect to a number of salient contract characteristics. Additionally, firms using systems contracts exhibit higher turnover rates than do firms using blanket contracts. Some implications of these findings for buyers are discussed.
Book Reviews
Authors: Carter Joseph R.
Published: June 2017

QUEST FOR QUALITY: HOW ONE COMPANY PUT THEORY TO WORK, by Roger L. Hale, Douglas R. Hoelscher, and Ronald E. Kowal, Tennant Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1987.
The Myth of the Cooperative Single Source
Authors: Ramsay John
Published: June 2017

This article examines the nature of Japanese subcontracting practices and compares them in detail with equivalent behavior in the West. The contrast is made between the multi‐sourced, adversarial relationships typical in Western subcontracting relationships and the cooperative single‐sourced approach favored by Japanese industry.

Particular attention is paid to the supposedly common Japanese practice of awarding long‐term contracts to single sources. It is argued that although this practice is indeed prevalent in the Japanese auto industry, the nature of the relationship between buyer and supplier is frequently less than cooperative. The argument is advanced that this interpretation of trading relationships stems from a misinterpretation of events in two radically different cultures. It is suggested that many apparently cooperative, egalitarian relationships in Japan are actually deals made between unequals, with the buyers wielding huge amounts of power over their single sources.

The article concludes with a warning about the dangers of making direct international transfers of poorly understood business practices.
Fitting Purchasing to the Strategic Firm: Frameworks, Processes, and Values
Authors: Freeman Virginia T. , Cavinato Joseph L.
Published: June 2017

For the entire firm to experience a consistent level of success in today's rapidly changing environment, purchasing operations and activities must be synchronized with the strategy of the firm and attuned with the variable external forces. No longer can purchasing serve the growing firm with “plain vanilla” service, utilize methods and procedures of a decade ago, and have one set of approaches for all possible tasks. As firms adapt to ever changing situations and move toward more proactive strategic modes of operation, purchasing must also progress through various stages of evolution. This article draws on extensive field interviews to present a road map outlining how purchasing can function as a productive contributor to the mission of the ever changing and increasingly sophisticated firm.
Vendor Profile Analysis
Authors: Thompson Kenneth N.
Published: June 2017

This article describes a modified weighted point model for aiding decision makers with the prepurchase evaluation of vendors. Referred to as vendor profile analysis (VPA), the model is designed for use on microcomputers employing spread sheet software, such as Lotus 1‐2‐3 and Symphony. The power of VPA stems from its use of the Monte Carlo simulation technique for modeling the uncertainty associated with predicting vendor performance on evaluative criteria. The use of Monte Carlo simulation simplifies decision makers' input to the evaluation model and provides output that contains considerably more information upon which to base purchase decisions than do standard weighted point decision models.
Ethical Practices in Purchasing
Authors: Forker Laura B. , Janson Robert L.
Published: June 2017

Uncertainty about what constitutes ethical conduct has increased markedly for purchasing people in recent years. This article reports the results of a study that was conducted jointly by Ernst & Whinney and NAPM's Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies, with support from Purchasing World magazine. Thirty‐nine states, the District of Columbia, and Canada were represented among the survey respondents. The questionnaire utilized in the study requested detailed information in the following areas: (1) ethical practices, (2) buying experience, (3) acceptance of favors, (4) narrative comments, (5) organizational profile, and (6) personal data about the respondent. The results of the study were compared with those from a similar regional study conducted in 1975 by Ernst & Whinney and also with the results of a 1978 purchasing ethics study conducted by the Illionis Institute of Technology.

The current study indicates that the vast majority of purchasing personnel conduct their business affairs in an ethical manner; however, they do not agree on how ethical standards can be enforced. Adoption of a formal ethics policy is considered helpful in preventing dubious practices, but respondents report that today top management is issuing fewer policy statements concerning ethical standards of conduct than it did twelve years ago.
“Quality is Free”: A Comparative Study of Attitudes in the U.S. and Japan
Authors: Reitsperger Wolf , Daniel Shirley , El‐Shaieb Abdel
Published: June 2017

American manufacturing has been criticized for its adherence to economic conformance ideas that allow the acceptance of defects in purchased supplies and components. It has frequently been argued that this adherence is a major factor in losing the competitive edge with Japan. This study provides empirical data showing the extent to which U.S. manufacturing managers have adopted “quality is free” ideas—and how they compare with Japanese manufacturing managers. The article uses these data to derive implications for the U.S. purchasing function in the 1990s.
Accepting Soviet Goods in Countertrade: Problems with Product Quality
Authors: Forker Laura B.
Published: June 2017

Since the collapse of world oil prices in January 1986, and Mr. Gorbachev's subsequent call on Soviet enterprises to increase exports of “high value‐added manufactured goods” to decrease the country's dependence on oil for export earnings, pressures on Western trading partners to engage in countertrade have multiplied. Countertrade is one or more transactions involving the payment for materials purchased with other goods. Payment can be made either completely with products or commodities, or partially with products/commodities and partially with cash.

A key consideration for Western companies countertrading with the Soviets is the usability or the salability of the goods they receive in exchange. This article examines various considerations in the evaluation of Soviet product quality. The impacts on product quality generated by the Soviet Union's centrally planned economy, its foreign trade system, and its quality control system are explored and evaluated. The emerging importance of countertrade in Soviet foreign trade is also discussed. Finally, some predictions regarding the future of Soviet product quality and the implications for Western firms accepting Soviet goods in countertrade are offered.
Joint Optimality in Buyer‐Supplier Negotiations
Authors: Rubin Paul A. , Carter Joseph R.
Published: June 2017

The relationship between supplier and customer in the United States is gradually changing from adversarial to cooperative. The potential benefits of collaborative negotiation typically have been developed only in highly specialized or unique operating situations. This article demonstrates the general superiority of cooperative negotiation, from the standpoint of overall cost reduction. It develops a generalized model and discusses some possible pitfalls in its implementation.
Book Reviews
Authors: Roberts John L.
Published: June 2017

EDI AND AMERICAN LAW: A PRACTICAL GUIDE, by Benjamin Wright, TDCC: The Electronic Data Interchange Association, Alexandria, Virginia, 1989, 114 pages.
Purchasing in the International Marketplace: Implications for Operations
Authors: Carter Joseph R. , Narasimhan Ram
Published: June 2017

Internationalization of the marketplace, global competition, and changes in the business environment have contributed to the increase in international purchasing. U.S. firms, recognizing these trends, are entering the international arena in increasing numbers. Simply stated, domestic suppliers alone cannot meet all the competitive needs of a multinational corporation. As a result, international sourcing has emerged as a critical component of corporate strategy, aimed at reducing costs, raising product quality, increasing manufacturing flexibility, and improving designs. This article discusses the strategic importance of international purchasing, describes procedural and managerial issues of concern in international procurement, and delineates the significant differences between buying from foreign and domestic sources.
Integrated Materiel Management in a Large Semi‐Public Organization
Authors: Cannon James F. , Perry James H.
Published: June 2017

This article is developed around a case study that investigates the management strategy and execution of a major multi‐year effort to streamline and integrate the materiel management process within the United States Postal Service (USPS). Based on the USPS operating environment, along with related support challenges, the article examines the key top‐level initiatives developed to facilitate the integration effort. It also addresses in detail a number of central elements or tenets that underlie USPS strategic materiel management thinking. The objective of the article is to provide for purchasing and materials managers who work in large complex institutional units a case study in the strategy and tactics of integrating the materials management processes.
The Cost of Ordering
Authors: Biggs Joseph R. , Thies Emil A. , Sisak James R.
Published: June 2017

The utilization of traditional purchasing management methods and techniques should be reviewed on a timely basis to ensure that necessary changes are made as time and circumstances dictate. In this article, the authors report the results of a study to evaluate current uses of cost of ordering figures, the actual dollar values used for the cost of ordering, and how these values are determined. The results indicate that for most firms studied, there has been little, if any, change in the use and determination of the order cost value since the development of the classical EOQ model in 1913.
Book Reviews
Authors: Harris Joseph E.
Published: June 2017

EFFECTIVE MINORITY PURCHASING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, by Richard L. Mooney, C.P.M., AVL Press Color Lithography, Burbank, California, 1989, 58 pages.
U.S. Buyers' Relationships with Pacific Rim Sellers
Authors: Spekman Robert E.
Published: June 2017

In the 1980s, corporate procurement practices changed dramatically. Many buyers sought closer, more cooperative trading relationships with sellers and often attempted to source on a global scale. In a number of instances, the trading partner was an Asian supplier. However, despite these efforts to improve their competitive position, U.S. firms often did not understand fully the nature of these more collaborative trading relationships. This study describes the nature of trading relationships between a sample of American industrial buyers and Pacific Rim sellers.
Market Research for Federal Contracting Officers: Key to Procurement Reform
Authors: Mulhern John J.
Published: June 2017

Federal contracting officers are required by law to perform market research. Studies and experience suggest that market research in the sense apparently intended by Congress is required for the success of acquisition reform; however, market research is not identified in the major commission reports on acquisition reform. Contracting officers lack both examples and a definition to guide them. This article draws upon both purchasing and marketing disciplines to construct a definition of market research that contracting officers should find useful.
Global Sourcing: A Development Approach
Authors: Monczka Robert M. , Trent Robert J.
Published: June 2017

The 1980s witnessed rapid competitive changes globally. As U.S. firms struggled to maintain world market share, they relied increasingly on international part sourcing to sustain competitiveness. As many U.S. firms became more experienced with international procurement, worldwide sourcing shifted from a reactive to a proactive strategy intended to provide a competitive advantage. This article analyzes the growth of international sourcing within the firm as a four‐phase development process. It also presents a hierarchical progression of international to global sourcing strategies and the characteristics associated with each strategy.
Purchasing from Minority Small Businesses
Authors: Dollinger Marc J. , Enz Cathy A. , Daily Catherine M.
Published: June 2017

This article employs a transaction costs framework to analyze the problems of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) purchasing programs. The results from field surveys of small minority firms and corporate purchasing personnel indicate that program participants face differences in transaction costs and in their preferences of ways to overcome these costs. In the majority of situations, minority firms face higher transaction costs than do their corporate purchasing counterparts. The article offers recommendations for improving the performance of MBE purchasing programs, and the policy implications for these programs are discussed.
The Strategic Consistency Between Purchasing and Production
Authors: John Caron H. St. , Young Scott T.
Published: June 2017

This article reports the results of a study that focused on strategic agreement among purchasing, production, and production planning managers. The findings suggest that established goals do in fact guide long‐range planning decisions, but that they do not necessarily guide day‐to‐day problem‐solving activities.
The Use of Approved Supplier Lists
Authors: Plank Richard E. , Kijewski Valerie
Published: June 2017

This exploratory study, using a sample of purchasing personnel from the state of Massachusetts, addresses the issue of the use and the development of approved supplier lists. It examines the types of products that are the subject of approved supplier lists, who participates in list specification, and the communication patterns evident during the process of developing approved supplier lists. The study concludes with a discussion of the role of approved supplier lists in affecting the power relationship of buyers and sellers.
Book Review
Authors: Larson Paul D.
Published: June 2017

JUST IN TIME PURCHASING, by A. Ansari and B. Modarress, The Free Press, New York, 1990, 162 pages. Hardcover, retail price $35.
A Managerial Guideline for the Development and Implementation of Purchasing Partnerships
Authors: Ellram Lisa M.
Published: June 2017

The purchasing function in many United States‐based firms traditionally has maintained adversarial relationships with suppliers. As world markets become increasingly competitive, firms have discovered that close partnership relationships with important suppliers can produce managerial, technological, and financial benefits. This article presents a guide for firms interested in developing purchasing partnerships to follow in pursuit of those relationships. While this guide has not been empirically tested, it was developed on the basis of a thorough literature review coupled with the consistent findings of the author while conducting case studies of six firms involved in successful purchasing partnerships. The article concludes by suggesting the contribution that purchasing partnerships can make to the firm as a whole, as well as to the purchasing function of the firm.
Supplier Bar Codes: Closing The EDI Loop
Authors: Carter Joseph R. , Ragatz Gary L.
Published: June 2017

This article presents the partial results of a major research project which was funded by the Computer Information Systems & Technology Group of the National Association of Purchasing Management. The project focused on the implementation of automatic identification technology (bar codes) in the purchasing environment. Twenty firms participated in the development of materials concerning the implementation of supplier bar codes. The firms were chosen based on their level of experience with EDI and bar code technology. The participating firms were all leaders in supplier bar code applications and represented a wide range of industries.
Identifying Interfirm Total Cost Advantages for Supply Chain Competitivenes
Authors: Cavinato Joseph L.
Published: June 2017

Supply chains, partnerships, and strategic alliances are popular interfirm linkages designed to attain joint cost savings, product enhancements, and competitive services. Much research exists showing the operating advantages and the nature of these links between firms. Though cost and productivity differences between firms provide opportunities for these relationships, this article shows that key financial factors also support the rationale for them. These factors can be used effectively as extensions of current purchasing analyses of suppliers when considering potential partner relationships, or when simply conducting homework prior to negotiations.
An Analysis of the Purchasing Manager's Position in Private, Public, and Nonprofit Settings
Authors: Muller Eugene W.
Published: June 2017

A common perception held within the purchasing community is that the work of private sector, public sector, and nonprofit sector purchasers is widely disparate. This report describes a large‐scale study conducted to answer the question of how much the duties of the purchasing manager actually differ across seven major work settings: manufacturing, U.S. government, state/local government, institutions, services, retail, and food sectors. A total of 1,496 purchasers selected at random from each of these areas responded to a survey asking them to indicate their job duties. The results showed relatively little difference in the duties of purchasers across the various areas. The implications of these results include a major change in how the differences between the purchasing function in the various settings can be viewed. Another implication is the possible enhancement of the certified purchasing manager examination (C.P.M.) into a universal purchasing certification instrument.
Supplier Performance Measures and Practices in JIT Companies in the U.S. and the U.K.
Authors: Billesbach Thomas J. , Harrison Alan , Croom‐Morgan Simon
Published: June 2017

Purchasing can do a great deal to support and enhance the effectiveness of a JIT manufacturing system. This article explores these specific possibilities and compares the performance of American and British firms in this regard. Although companies in the United States and the United Kingdom have been utilizing JIT principles for a number of years, there appear to be several significant differences between U.S. and U.K. purchasing practices. Approximately 100 American and British manufacturing firms were studied in an attempt to identify and analyze these differences. This article reports the results of that study.
Book Review
Authors: Burt David N.
Published: June 2017

PURCHASING PRINCIPLES & MANAGEMENT, 6th edition, by Peter Baily and David Farmer, Pitman Publishing Company, London, 1990.
The Single Source Issue: U.S. and Japanese Sourcing Strategies
Authors: Presutti William D.
Published: June 2017

The relationship between buyer and seller has been undergoing dramatic changes in many U.S. firms. The Japanese practice of single sourcing—and the close relationship it forges between buyer and seller—has been used as a model by an increasing number of U.S. firms seeking to reduce and better manage their supplier bases. Some have expressed concern that U.S. firms are rushing into single sourcing without sufficient consideration of the differences between the Japanese and the U.S. industrial systems. Yet there is little research to support this view. The results of a survey presented in this article suggest that those concerns may be unfounded. The research also suggests that, despite the differences in systems, industrial purchasing practices in the two countries are more similar than many realize when it comes to dealing with suppliers.