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.

Newly Published Resources at (www.capsresearch.org):

Focus Study: Front-End Loading - Supply Management and New Product Development in Japan
The CAPS Research Japan Group suggest that front-end loading (FEL), complemented by early supply management and supplier involvement, has tremendous potential to improve the three business concerns of time, quality and cost. The two most significant features of FEL are (1) customer focus centering on doing the right things, and (2) cycle-time reduction focusing on doing them correctly. The topics examined in the study include: current state of FEL in Japanese industries; level of recognition of FEL; examination of an FEL organization; competency of supply managers to implement FEL; analysis of factors preventing implementation of FEL; and expansion of the supply manager’s role today.

• Click here to access the Focus Study, "Front-End Loading - Supply Management and New Product Development in Japan."

Benchmarking: Aerospace & Defense Industry Metric Report
The Aerospace and Defense Industry Benchmarking Metric Report for 2009 contains key supply management performance measures on topics including organizational structure, professional development, financial information and supplier relationships. New this year is the focus on measuring the importance of various initiatives and programs as well as the implementation status of these initiatives and programs. Survey participants reported the importance (high, medium, or low) of 32 different initiatives and programs as well as the status implementation throughout the organization. These initiatives and programs range from employing 'balanced scorecards' to the 'unique identification (UID)' of tangible items. Understanding the relationship between importance and implementation can help determine which initiatives and programs can be considered as being best practices within the Aerospace and Defense industry sector.

• Click here to access the 2009 Aerospace & Defense Industry Metric Report.

Benchmarking: Investment Recovery
Sponsored by the Investment Recovery Association, this report focuses on the overall benefits of investment recovery, and the tools and technologies employed. The metric report presents data from the full survey sample and provides summary breakouts for major industry segments that correspond to the logical clustering of participating companies.

• Click here to access the 2009 Investment Recovery Purchasing Performance Benchmarking Report.

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Benchmarking Opportunities:

• Cross-Industry Benchmarking: The highly regarded Cross-Industry Report of Standard Benchmarks 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:
  -Low-Cost Country Sourcing and Procurement Focused Report
  -Market Basket of Goods for Office Supplies
  -Petroleum Industry
  -Semiconductor Industry
  -Shared Services Centers Focused Report
  
  
  
• New surveys scheduled for release in June:
  -Metals & Mining Industry
  

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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News:

• 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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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
• CPO Insights: Discount Payment Terms-Their Use in Negotiation and Managing Working Capital
• 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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