Materials Research & Manufacturing Section News

Members of the Materials Research and Manufacturing Section of the Chemistry Division share information concerning all phases of materials procurement, production, applications, and handling by means of educational activities, cooperative programs, publications, and Section-sponsored events at annual conferences

The effects of business-to-business relationships on electronic procurement systems: An exploratory study

For many organisations e-Procurement has become a necessity. Nevertheless, while e-procurement has generated considerable hype the phenomenon is generally under-researched. This paper explores the effects that business-to-business relationships have on e-Procurement systems using a field study of 6 companies. The study classifies business-to-business (B2B) relationships as being adversarial and collaborative, and examines the effects that each have on the electronically supported transaction phases of the procurement lifecycle. The research findings indicate that B2B relationships have most effect on the sourcing, fulfilment, and consumption phases of the procurement cycle

Standard spacecraft economic analysis. Volume 1: Executive summary

A study of the comparative program costs associated with use of various standardized spacecraft for Air Force space test program missions to be flown on the space shuttle during the 1980-1990 time period is reviewed. The first phase of the study considered a variety of procurement mixes composed of existing or programmed NASA standard spacecraft designs and a Air Force standard spacecraft design. The results were briefed to a joint NASA/Air Force audience on July 11, 1976. The second phase considered additional procurement options using an upgraded version of an existing NASA design. The results of both phases are summarized

Standard spacecraft economic analysis. Volume 2: Findings and conclusions

The comparative program costs associated with use of various standardized spacecraft for Air Force space test program missions to be flown on the space shuttle were studied in two phases. In the first phase, a variety of procurement mixes composed of existing or programmed NASA standard spacecraft designs and an Air Force standard spacecraft design were considered. The second phase dealt with additional procurement options using an upgraded version of an existing NASA design. The results of both phases are discussed

THE ROLE OF THE E-PROCUREMENT IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS

This article aims to examine the role of the E-procurement forms in the six phases of the purchasing process. The paper starts with an introductory part about the purchasing process. Next, based on a literature review we selected and defined the most important forms of E-procurement. Furthermore, we develop a theoretical framework that suggests what form of E-procurement is best to use in every phase of the purchasing process. At the end of the paper we draw conclusions and we set some ground rules for managers regarding to the implementation of an E-procurement form.purchasing, E-procurement; management, supply chain management, optimization

Investigation of factors that influence the selection of procurement systems of the South African construction industry

Procurement systems are vital in ensuring a successful implementation of a construction projects, precisely to all phases of the project. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate in a systematic manner the factors that influence the selection of procurement system in the South African construction industr

AdaNET Dynamic Software Inventory (DSI) prototype component acquisition plan

A component acquisition plan contains the information needed to evaluate, select, and acquire software and hardware components necessary for successful completion of the AdaNET Dynamic Software Inventory (DSI) Management System Prototype. This plan will evolve and be applicable to all phases of the DSI prototype development. Resources, budgets, schedules, and organizations related to component acquisition activities are provided. A purpose and description of a software or hardware component which is to be acquired are presented. Since this is a plan for acquisition of all components, this section is not applicable. The procurement activities and events conducted by the acquirer are described and who is responsible is identified, where the activity will be performed, and when the activities will occur for each planned procurement. Acquisition requirements describe the specific requirements and standards to be followed during component acquisition. The activities which will take place during component acquisition are described. A list of abbreviations and acronyms, and a glossary are contained

Design management: changing roles of the professions

This paper sets out to explore how recent changes in procurement in construction have affected the roles that professions play in the design process. It discusses how professions that traditionally took the role of design manager now find themselves participating within previously unforeseen contexts, working in multidisciplinary teams led by contractors and with changed responsibilities at the design stage. Supply chain members who were not previously involved during the early project phases are being engaged at the earliest phases of the project life cycle and even taking leadership roles while designers sometimes work as supply chain partners. A study of design in construction and other sectors shows that in dealing with design management issues it is critical to deepen appreciation for the unique characteristics of design and the design process. The paper argues that contractors and designers taking on design management roles in a dynamic industry seeking to explore best practice and innovative approaches to procurement and in the delivery of projects need to acquire new skills, management education and develop the necessary qualities

A Decade of Helping Civil Society Fight Corruption in the Philippines: Results and Lessons

This Report details the results and lessons of a decade long (2003-2013) Partnership for Transparency Fund (www.ptfund.org) support to Filipino civil society organizations to fight corruption. It celebrates the successes and reflects on challenges faced as PTF enters a new phase in its partnership. In 2014 PTF established a regional affiliate called PTF Asia as a foundation headquartered in Manila. As efforts worldwide and in the Philippines have evolved during these ten years, the discussion in this Report offers lessons in going forward towards this new phase as well as initiatives beyond the Philippine

Managing suppliers for collection development: the UK higher education perspective

This chapter follows the adoption of the new procurement discipline by academic libraries since the demise of the NBA. It first examines the standard procurement cycle, with particular reference to libraries and book supply. It then discusses library purchasing consortia and their contribution to managing and developing the library market place for books, identifying three phases of operation. It closes with some reflections on the future prospects of collection development. Traditional collection development is seen as being turned on its head – we no longer seek to collect the huge range of works of scholars of all other institutions in order to make them available to the (relatively) small number of our own scholars; instead we collect the works of our own and make them available to all