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) as well as information on benchmarking activities and other news about our programs and events. Please note that all first-time visitors need to create a user login profile to access the research documents.

News:

• Market Basket of Goods Benchmarking - The CAPS Research 'market basket' approach to price comparison is very similar to an actual shopping experience. For example, one of the 50 items in the market basket report for MRO goods published in May 2008 about 80% of the participants reported they purchased the actual item as specified and the average cost for that item was $10.91 each. Data provided by the other participants indicates the average price for an equivalent item was $6.59 each. This comparative analysis provides companies who participate in this program with data they can use to influence their buying strategies. Information about the MRO Market Basket of Goods program is in the 'Benchmarking Opportunities' section below.
  
  
• Measuring Supplier Environmental Sustainability for the Electric Utility Industry - The Electric Utility Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization that has environmental sustainability as its core purpose. The Alliance has partnered with CAPS Research to develop a survey that gauges the environmental sustainability maturity of key suppliers; identifies opportunities for improvement; provides a baseline that the Alliance can use for quantitative measures and future trending; and supports an annual sustainability evaluation of suppliers. The group plans to develop supply chain practices that focus on environmental stewardship and also provide value for customers and shareholders.
  
  
• Executive Assessment - Are you ready to facilitate your organization's transformation to excellence? The CAPS Research executive assessment process helps supply management leaders determine the importance placed on their organization's 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. The final due date for participation is May 15, 2009. For information on how to participate, send an email to dmaciejewski@capsresearch.org.
  
  
• The CAPS Research 2008 Annual Report provides a financial summary, a listing of the Board of Trustees, and a listing of all CAPS Research sponsor organizations as of December 31, 2008. Click here to access the 2008 CAPS Research Annual Report.

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Benchmarking Opportunities:

• Cross-Industry Benchmarking: The highly regarded Cross-Industry Report of Standard Benchmarks has been revised starting with an updated survey that was released on March 24th, 2009. The survey will be open for data collection until May 1, 2009. Last year, 250 companies participated in this benchmarking opportunity. If you or someone at your organization has not received information about how to participate, contact the CAPS Research benchmarking team at: metrics@capsresearch.org. The Cross-Industry Report provides a standard set of key metrics that measure supply management performance across various industry sectors.
  
  
• Market Basket of Goods for MRO products:This is your opportunity to participate in a process that allows you to compare the prices you paid for commonly purchased MRO products against the prices reported by other companies. In addition to seeing the average and median prices of the actual items specified, you will also see the average and median prices paid for equivalent items. Just as important as the prices themselves, you will see the percent of companies that reported they purchased actual items or equivalent items. The survey will close on May 1st, so if you are interested in participating, send an email to the benchmarking team at metrics@capsresearch.org.
  
  
• Benchmarking surveys in data collection until May 1st:
  -Cross-Industry Report of Standard Benchmarks
  -Market Basket of Goods for MRO Products
  -Utilities Industry
  
  
• New surveys scheduled for release:
  -Metals & Mining Industry: May 12th
  -Pharmaceutical Industry: April 28th
  -Petroleum Industry: April 28th
  -Semiconductor Industry: May 28th
  -Shared Services Centers: May 12th

Do You Want To Benchmark? If the answer is 'Yes,' you should contact the benchmarking team at CAPS Research to get your company added to the list of companies who will be asked to provide data for the 2009 survey releases. Just send an email to metrics@capsresearch.org asking for more information about benchmarking opportunities.

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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:

• Benchmarking - Aerospace & Defense Industry Metric Report
• CPO Insights - Best Practices for Structuring and Managing a Procure-to-Pay Process
• Focus Study: Supply Chain Integration - Challenges and Good Practices
• Focus Study - Front-End Loading: Supply Management and New Product Development in Japan

Please note that only CAPS Research sponsor organizations have full access to Knowledge Central. 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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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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