Procurement weekly July 04, 2009

Singapore - There is a need for an increase in supply chain security especially in recessionary times, says Tony Lugg, director of security at TNT Asia. He notes that as the global downturn takes out bottom lines everywhere, companies are prone to put security on the backburner in favour of cutting losses, resulting in a spike in litigation against them.

Global - Evergreen Marine and COSCO Container Lines will combine their existing joint FAX and ESA services to cope with the rise in bunker prices.

Singapore - The Singapore aviation industry needs to restructure its airport operations to meet current and new challenges, said minister mentor Lee Kwan Yew.

Singapore – SMEs in Singapore can enjoy a 35% discount on some FedEx International Priority services under the express company’s new partnership with the association of small and medium enterprises (ASME).

Singapore – Reporting to the COO, you will drive the supply chain function for Asia Pacific so as to achieve a cost efficient and seamless flow of products across the region.

Global – Global supply chains are inherently fragile, with any disruption potentially resulting in lost business and poor reactionary decision making, says a top JDA executive.

Global – The procurement profession is gaining traction, as companies are realising that ROI associated with spend management initiatives are both real and near term, and have pushed strategies to manage cash high on their agenda, says an Ariba study.

Singapore – The successful candidate will use his or her superior knowledge of best practice in the logistics field to identify and recommend change and adaptation that will result in driving efficiencies and ultimately cost savings throughout the organisation.

India - The flagging airline has succumbed to pressure from a looming strike and will not defer the salary of 11,000, or half its employees as previously planned.

China - DHL has launched a new domestic transportation hub in Shanghai, as part of a US$25 million investment to strengthens its domestic road transportation and distribution market in the country.

Vietnam – Nissan said it sees “tremendous opportunities” in Vietnam and will go ahead with production next year, despite the downturn taking a bite of automotive manufacturers’ bottom lines everywhere.

Singapore - Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo moved 150 highly valuable works of art from world-renowned museums in Antwerp, as part of a National Heritage Board's (NHB) programme to enrich the local arts and cultural scene.

China - China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) plans to double its container shipping rates on freight routes between Asia and Europe from US$300 to $650 per TEU starting 1 July.

Australia – Toll has signed an agreement with Chevron Australia to manage the Barrow Island Supply Base and Logistics Services contract for the Gorgon Project.

Australia – The successful candidate will drive change in relation to process engineering and optimisation as well as change management to improve the overall end user logistics operation.

Singapore – Lanxess said the deepening recession has hampered demand of butyl rubber, and will push the construction of its butyl rubber facility here to 2014.

Global - DHL Global Forwarding and Bangkok Flight Services have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the area of air cargo security that will see the two sharing best practices on security systems and air cargo handling.

India - Air India is seeking a Rs.10,000 crore (approximately US$2 billion) bailout package from the central government amid threats by employees to stage a strike.

Australia - Qantas and Boeing have reached a mutual agreement to defer and cancel up to 30 Boeing airplanes due to continued weak demand in the aviation industry.

China – Goodrich’s new facility at China’s Tianjin Airport will serve as headquarters for the company’s supply chain activities in China.