This edition of the monthly newsletter provides information about the CAPS Research documents that are now available at the CAPS Research public web site (www.capsresearch.org). Please note that all first-time visitors need to create a user login profile to access the research documents.

Newly Published Resources at www.capsresearch.org
Focus Study: Supply Strategy Implementation: Current State and Future Opportunities
To achieve significant and successful supply transformations, firms worldwide need to assess how well they are implementing supply strategies considered most important to the success of their organization. With this in mind, CAPS Research executed the Executive Assessment, the primary objective of which was to determine the importance organizations worldwide place on various supply strategies, their level of implementation and results achieved from these strategies. This report summarizes data concerning 23 supply strategies and performance results from 110 supply organizations across 24 industries.

• Click here to access the Focus Study, "Supply Strategy Implementation: Current State and Future Opportunities."

Critical Issues Report: Lean Supply Chain Strategies and Implementation
Many companies have adopted parts and pieces of lean practices in their manufacturing processes, but there are many opportunities to examine waste in all areas of the supply chain and provide value to the organization. This report examines the role of metrics in creating lean supply chains and describes some of the obstacles as well as successes that firms gain in creating lean practices in the supply chain. Two case studies are presented with regard to the lean practices that exist within their firms.

• Click here to access the Critical Issues report, "Lean Supply Chain Strategies and Implementation."

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Benchmarking Report: Cross-Industry Report of Standard Benchmarks
The October 2008 Cross-Industry Metric Report contains 20 standard benchmarks that include data from 249 organizations representing 16 different industry sectors. This highly regarded report includes key performance indicators for different industry sectors including purchasing operating expenses, training spend, diversity spend, and total spend as a percent of revenue. New for this reporting period are summaries for the Health Care Services industry sector and the Retail industry sector. There is also a newly-listed section for 'Other Industries' which includes aggregated data from survey participants who represent different industry sectors including Computer Hardware, Computer Software, Consumer Products, Media, and Transportation Services. There weren't sufficient participants from each of these industry sectors to develop industry-specific reports.

• Click here to access the Benchmarking report, "October 2008 Cross-Industry Report of Standard Benchmarks."

Benchmarking Report: ISM Services Group Organization and Workforce Metrics for 2008
Members of the ISM Services Group recently participated in a benchmark survey that focused on utilization of supply management professionals; professional development opportunities; organizational spend using software applications and web-based programs; and current supplier relationships and strategic alliances programs. The report includes a new metric on the percent of participating companies who reported they pay recruitment fees for temporary employees (administrative support, tactical staff, and technical staff) and the percent of the temporary employees' base pay as fees.

• Click here to access the Benchmarking report, "ISM Services Group: Organization and Workforce Metrics for 2008."

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Benchmarking Report: ISM Services Group Services and Commodities Spend Metrics for 2008
In addition to the survey and report referenced above, the ISM Services Group also completed a short survey resulting in a report with a comprehensive look at purchasing activities and purchasing methods. The categories focused on include capital, construction, and facilities; consulting, temporary labor and professional services; information technology; logistics; marketing services and media; and travel, fleet and meetings.

• Click here to access the Benchmarking report, "ISM Services Group: Services and Commodities Spend Metrics for 2008."

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Benchmarking Report: Petroleum Industry 2008 Metric Report
Over 60 percent of the petroleum companies who participated in this year's Industry specific survey reported they currently outsource some of their supply management activities including expediting, inventory management, and logistics. In 2007, only 37 percent of the survey participants reported they outsourced supply management functions. Supply management is moving offshore, as well as being outsourced. About 30 percent of the participating companies reported offshoring accounts payable functions and contingent labor sourcing. The benchmarking metric report also provides information on organizational metrics, financial measures, professional development, and supplier relationships. Breakout reports are provided for petroleum companies who reported being integrated, upstream, or downstream organizations.

• Click here to access the Benchmarking report, "Petroleum Industry 2008 Metric Report."

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Benchmarking Report: Telecommunications Services Industry 2008 Metric Report
Almost 80 percent of the Telecommunications Services companies participating in the 2008 Industry report said their companies have sustainability goals. These goals include regularly communicating sustainability performance to internal and external customers; increasing overall company understanding and participation; supporting work life balance, and working with partners who have same philosophy. The benchmarking metric report also provides information on organizational structure, financial measures, professional development, and supplier relationships.

• Click here to access the Benchmarking report, "Telecommunications Service Industry 2008 Metric Report."

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Benchmarking Opportunities:

• Market Basket of Goods for Print Services: Data collection occurs in Nov 2008.
• Market Basket of Goods for Branded Items: This new survey will be released in Dec 2008.
• Focused Benchmarking for Automotive Parts Manufacturing Industry: This new survey will be released in Dec 2008.

Remember, if you participate in a CAPS Research benchmarking survey you will receive the metric report six to eight weeks before it is published on the CAPS Research public web site. For information on these programs and other benchmarking opportunities, contact metrics@capsresearch.org.

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Knowledge Central:

The following reports and information are now published on www.capsknowledge.org which is a sponsor-only searchable archive of CAPS Research studies, leading-edge practices, benchmarking reports and best practices presentations:

• CPO Insights: Sources of Compensation Benchmarks for Procurement and Logistics Positions
• Critical Issues Report: "GREEN" Corporate Strategies and Implementations
• CAPS Research Collaboration Center: Reviews and comments on the Best Practices Workshop Interactive Strategy Sessions

Please note that only CAPS Research sponsor organizations have full access to Knowledge Central. For information about this searchable archive of all CAPS Research studies, leading-edge practices, benchmarking reports and best practices presentations, contact research@capsresearch.org. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to click on Knowledge Central Overview for a short, five-minute guided tour of our Sponsor web site, Knowledge Central.

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Other News:

• Are you ready to facilitate your organization's transformation to excellence? CAPS Research will release the next Executive Assessment questionnaire in early 2009. This highly regarded and effective assessment process helps supply management leaders determine the importance placed on their organizations critical supply strategies. The assessments are designed to help senior executives facilitate their organization's transformation by validating the current implementation state of their critical sourcing and supply chain strategies.
• International Executive Roundtable: The 20th Annual International Executive Roundtable will be held Apr 15 - 17, 2009 in Scottsdale, AZ. The theme is "Supply Management: Strategies for Superior Results in Turbulent Times". This is a CAPS Research Sponsor event.

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For more information about CAPS Research programs and products please contact us at Research@capsresearch.org.

Sincerely,
Phillip Carter, D.B.A.
Executive Director
CAPS Research

CAPS Research is a global research organization jointly sponsored by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and the Institute for Supply Management™.

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