Spend Matters » Sheena Moore

Apple the “Tax Dodger,” Your Donated Clothes, Global Brand Supply Chain Woes

Sheena Moore — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:44:05 +0000

Tim Cook was questioned by a US Senate subcommittee about Apple’s offshore cash, after being accused of “dodging” paying taxes in the US. What really happens to your clothes after you donate them? NPR takes a look. Global brands are still under fire: H&M says orders for clothing made in the Cambodian factory where 23 workers were injured on Monday were placed without its knowledge. Steelwedge announces their latest offering: “The world’s leading manufacturers are recognizing that increasingly complex, interdependent businesses—and the plans built to manage them—will only survive with better agility and resilience built into them,” their CEO says.

Supplier Network Debate, SPM Optimization, Suppliers at the Heart of Procurement

Sheena Moore — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:28:31 +0000

It’s the time of year at Spend Matters where if we’re not furiously writing or attending or speaking at any number of procurement events, we’re putting together free webinars just for you, our readers, to attend. Here are three that will be coming your way in the next few weeks: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 9-10am CDT The Great Debate: Will Supplier Networks Thrive, Implode, or Evolve? This is what AP, treasury, procurement, and supply chain managers need to know about the future of eProcurement, e-invoicing and business connectivity – featuring a live panel discussion that incorporates audience questions and commentary [...]

Upcoming Webinars, Google Wallet, 101 Carat Perfect Diamond

Sheena Moore — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:44:05 +0000

Here are some upcoming (free!) webinars that you might find interesting: 5/21/13: The Great Debate: Will Supplier Networks Thrive, Implode, or Evolve? 5/30/13: Good Data: Spend Analysis Tactics to Attack Supplier Performance Management 6/5/13: Putting the Supplier at the Heart of Procurement Ever wanted to send money through Gmail? Google Wallet allows you to “attach” money to an email, just as you would a photo or document. Harry Winston has bought a 101 carat “perfect diamond” at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction. The alarming issue of factory safety is escalated as a roof collapses at a shoe factory in Cambodia, killing [...]

Supreme Court and Monsanto, Pressure in Bangladesh, Supply Chain Efficiency

Sheena Moore — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:33:47 +0000

The Supreme Court ruled that farmers can’t use Monsanto’s genetically altered soybeans to create new seeds without paying the company a fee. Western retailers hurry to improve safety and working conditions in Bangladesh during the aftermath of the massive Rana Plaza factory fire. Don’t bother tracking Apple’s supply chain build plans. KPMG says that manufacturers are “motivated” by supply chain efficiency.

Conflict Minerals Questions Answered

Sheena Moore — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:25:27 +0000

Where do US manufacturers stand on conflict minerals compliance as we approach 2H2013? At Conflict Minerals EDGE earlier this week, we sought to find out. We’re proud to share some audience takeaways:

Portable Electronics on Airplanes, Shipping Market Improves, US Military Supply Risk

Sheena Moore — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:34:43 +0000

The FAA is considering allowing the use of portable electronics during take-off and landing. People are ordering container ships again – China Shipping Container Lines just signed a $683 Million deal for five new ships, which “provided a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered global shipping market.” The current level of the US Military’s supply chain risk is “frightening,” according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing. xkcd.com

Indirect Category Sourcing Savings?

Sheena Moore — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:53:34 +0000

Today we’d like to feature a new research paper authored by Spend Matters UK/Europe’s Peter Smith: Indirect Category Sourcing Savings : Fact or Fiction? Delivering Credible Benefits from Sourcing and Category Management Programmes. You can download it for free by clicking the link above. Peter says: “I’ve co-authored it with Ed Cross, (pictured here), Executive Director of Xchanging Procurement Services, also a serious triathlete and heavy metal music fan. (I’d love to say we developed the material during our regular 20-mile training runs… but I’d be lying). We start by looking at what makes sourcing and category management programmes successful. As well as [...]

Cadillacs in China, Cicadas are Coming, 787 in India, Visa in Rwanda

Sheena Moore — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:25:42 +0000

GM is building a new $1.3 billion Cadillac plant in China. Cicadas are coming this summer. Here’s everything you need to know. Air India is lifting the ban on Dreamliners. Visa is attempting a fledgling mobile payment venture in Rwanda.

Conflict Minerals EDGE: Steel, Stainless Steel, and Distribution Roundtable

Sheena Moore — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:00:20 +0000

Moderator Lisa Reisman (MetalMiner) takes the stage with Jennifer Diggins (Nucor), Jeffrey Friedman (Kloeckner Metals), Rose of Sharon DeVos (Stainless Sales Corporation), Michael Pfeifer (Industrial Metallurgists, LLC), and Lawrence Heim (The Elm Consulting Group) to kick off the afternoon session of Conflict Minerals EDGE. (Click image to enlarge)

Wedding Planning: Procuring “The” Dress

Sheena Moore — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:17:04 +0000

This post is part of an ongoing series about “procuring” a wedding, Spend Matters-style. See previous posts here: Wedding Planning: Spend Matters Style Procuring the Perfect Chicago Wedding Venue Wedding Planning: Venue, Menu, Hotel Blocks, Stationary, Oh My! …and thank you so much for all of your advice and congratulations so far! Oh, the wedding dress. I didn’t think I’d spend what I spent. But before we get to that, here’s some background: I was going to get some minor alterations (shortening to cocktail length and then cutting the sleeves off) to my grandmother’s gorgeous lace wedding dress from 1955, [...]