This edition of the monthly newsletter provides information about 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 – You may view 4 different Market Basket reports at the CAPS Research web site: MRO items, Office products, IT products and services, and Print services. All of the market baskets contain ‘shopping lists’ that are comprised of popularly referenced goods and services. The posted reports show the average and median prices reported for each item, along with the percent of companies who either purchased the item as specifically identified or an equivalent item. Participants of the report receive a customized report with detailed information about each item being measured (description, average price and price range, company rank, and the number of items that were 'actual items' or 'equivalent items'). This comparative analysis provides companies who participate in this program with data they can use to influence their buying strategies. The 2009 Office Supplies Market Basket of Goods report is currently in data review and will be posted to the CAPS Research web site later this month. For more information on how to participate in our Market Basket of Goods program email metrics@capsresearch.org.
  
  
• Measuring Supplier Environmental Sustainability – As you may know, CAPS Research recently partnered with a group of electric utility companies to build an environmental sustainability survey process that focuses on six key impact areas: Corporate policies and environmental management; Air Emissions; Energy consumption and conservation; Water use; Waste and materials management; and Innovation and leadership. The CAPS Research survey process is fairly straight-forward and we can work with your organization to custom tailor an environmental sustainability survey that can be directed to your supplier community. The report that will be developed from this survey process can help your organization and your suppliers better understand that a green supply chain can yield benefits. CAPS Research is positioned as the independent third-party organization to administer the survey, develop subsequent reports, and maintain data regardless of the industry group or sector. Our survey process allows us to release the survey to as few or as many suppliers as you want. For more information on this environmental sustainability initiative, send an email to research@capsresearch.org.
  
  
• Executive Assessment - 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. For more information, 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 June 2009 report is now available at the web site. If you or someone at your organization did not receive information about how to participate in the spring report, contact the CAPS Research benchmarking team at: metrics@capsresearch.org so you may participate in the fall update. The Cross-Industry Report provides a standard set of key metrics that measure supply management performance across various industry sectors.
  
  
• Benchmarking surveys in data collection:
  -Metals & Mining Industry
  
  
• Benchmarking reports in data review:
  -Low-Cost Country Sourcing and Procurement Activities Focused Report
  -Market Basket of Goods for Office Supplies
  -Petroleum Industry
  -Semiconductor Industry
  -Shared Services Centers Focused Report
  -Utilities Supplier Environmental Sustainability
  

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: 2009 Utilities Industry Metric Report
• Critical Issues Event Report: Supply Management: Strategies for Superior Results in Turbulent Times
• CPO Insights: Using Standard Contract Templates in Various Regions of the World
• Events: June 2009 Asian Executive Roundtable Presentations
• Focus Study: The Role of Optimization in Strategic Sourcing

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 website, 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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