By Pete Petersen

You know volunteerism is not all it's cracked up to be, you use that time that you could be home with your family unwinding after a long day at the office, to attend board meetings, prepare invoices, put together a newsletter, maintain a membership roster or find the next speaker. NAPM-SA is lucky to have 12 individuals that feel that this organization is important enough to donate their time and efforts to making NAPM-SA the organization that it is.

If you missed it, our Table Top Trade Show was a real success, thanks to Pancho Hernandez and Joe Herber everybody seemed to have a good time. Tom Smith is started to work on our annual Golf Tournament, an event looked forward to even by those outside the affiliate.

The Trade Show and Golf Tournament are the most noticeable functions behind the scenes you have: Mare Allen our DNA and Treasurer, Tom Smith not only does the golf tournament but he's also Membership Chair, Pancho Hernandez handled the Trade Show and is Communication Chair,

Elliott Chaitt is our Global Resources Chair his articles in the newsletter always receive compliments from other affiliates, Rose Medina our Secretary handles the minutes, Julie Cooper handles preparations for our dinner meetings, Mack Skeen is working on our marketing plan, Linda Dittmer who is always there to lend a helping hand, Joe Herber who help out on the Trade Show and Scott Oldendorph and Miles Zimmerman who are responsible for our Dinner Speaker and Educational Resource presentations.

It is through the efforts of every one of these people that keep our affiliate going. As President of NAPM-SA I want to Thank each and every one of them for their dedication and hard work and I hope you would do the same.

MISSION STATEMENT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PURCHASING MANAGEMENT-SOUTHERN ARIZONA SERVES THE NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE PROFESSION BY PROVIDING QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, CAREER BROADENING EXPERIENCES AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES

By Scott Oldendroph

You have heard about them from the press and friends that work there, you have seen them in action on TV, and the expression - if they told you anything more they would have to kill you. Well on Wednesday March 21 at 5:30 pm you will have the opportunity to tour the infamous Building 801 at Raytheon Missiles Systems and live to tell about it another day. This will be our second joint activity with APICS – American Production and Inventory Control Society this year and will be a memorable tour.

For many of us that have followed the transitions and mergers over the years at the US Air Force's Tucson missile facility; we have seen Hughes Aircraft become Hughes Missile then merge with General Dynamics and finally merge with Raytheon. Even the Tucson facility has grown with many new buildings southwest of the airport and spread into new buildings on Palo Verde northeast of the airport and U of A Industrial Park off I-10 and Santa Rita. Today Ratheon Missile Systems is the largest manufacturer and defense contractor in Southern Arizona and is said to have the best paid and skilled employees.

The air, sea and land launched missiles produced by Raytheon's Electronic Systems have provided the best defense available against all types of threats as demonstrated by the success of the missiles used during Desert Storm 10 years ago in the Middle East and other conflicts.

Being a military facility with guarded weapon technology only US citizens carrying a picture identification card will be allowed to tour the Raytheon facility. Reservations must be made by March 15 by calling Julie Cooper at (520) 896-6211 to allow Raytheon and the US Air Force to check you out before you visit their facility. After the tour there will be sandwiches and chips (cost $8.00) provided and exchange of trade secrets over food and drink with fellow NAPM and APICS should finish by 8:00 pm.

To attend the tour, come to the lobby of Building 801 at 5:30 pm with your photo ID. Directions on how to get there is go south on Nogales Highway south of Valencia, go to the second left or light which is Hermans Road and turn left on Hermans Road to the security guard shack and advise them that your are there for a tour of Building 801 with APICS and NAPM. Proceed straight ahead to the intersection and turn right and the road will circle around Building 801. Park your car and walk to the Building 801 lobby to meet your fellow NAPM and APICS friends.

We would like to welcome three new members to our association and one new trial member on our Trial Membership Program.

Lilian Maria Salazar Chamberlain Group
Buyer II

Isabel E. Espinoza Chamberlain Group
Buyer II

Marco A. Guevara Chamberlain Group
Purchasing Manager

John R. Becker University of Arizona
Student (Trial Member)

Name _______________________________________________________________

Company_______________________________________________________# Attending____________

Phone _________________________________________________________

If you are interesting in attending the C.P.M. Review Class that Ralph Long will be teaching. Please make sure that you contact Ralph at (520) 206-4759.

"WHERE IN THE WORLD"

In this country visitors are expected to be punctual, however, do not be surprised if the person you are visiting is late.

Japan Argentina Canada Germany

By Mare Allen

Records show that as early as the thirteenth century B.C. purchasing played an important role in business. Today, it would be difficult to find an organization, large or small, that doesn't understand the importance of purchasing and supply management, and how successful implementation of purchasing principles can have a positive impact on its overall success.

By definition, purchasing refers to the business activity of buying materials, supplies, and services needed to reach an organization's goals. It is one of the six major functions common to many type of organizations:

1. Purchasing and Supply Management
2. Finance and Accounting
3. Marketing
4. Human Resources
5. Engineering
6. Research and Development

The overall goal of purchasing and supply management is to impact the organization's bottom line in a positive way. While it involves a number of actions, the objectives of purchasing and supply management can be summarized around the "nine goals":

1. Provide an uninterrupted flow of materials, supplies, and services required to operate the organization.
2. Keep inventory investment and loss at a minimum.
3. Maintain and improve quality.
4. Find or develop competent suppliers.
5. Standardize, where possible, the items purchased.
6. Purchase required items and services at the lowest total cost.
7. Improve the organization's competitive position.
8. Achieve harmonious, productive working relationships with other functional areas within the organization.
9. Accomplish the purchasing objectives at the lowest possible level of administrative costs.

As a purchasing and supply management professional, your duties may expand beyond the acquisition of materials, services and equipment. Your responsibilities may extend into such areas as planning and policy making, motivation, evaluation, and control.

Of course, the atmosphere in which you work will vary from organization to organization. In larger companies, the purchasing and supply management department may consist of several hundred employees assigned to specialized tasks, and led by a vice president, director, or manager of purchasing, supply, or strategic sourcing who directs the overall sourcing operation.

The purchasing and supply management professionals impact is felt in all industries, including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, services, hospitality, government/public administration, and education. Purchasing and supply management can exert tremendous leverage on a company's profitability and operational success. It can also be a tremendously rewarding career.

Strategic skills, a global perspective, and the ability to manage professional relationships – these are just some of the characteristics of the successful purchasing and supply management professional in the 21^st century.

The next Satellite Seminar will be April 5, 2001 entitled "Streamlining Purchasing Processes with Up-to-Date Practices and Technology Integration."

The Satellite Seminars are an excellent learning opportunity at a very reasonable rate only $30.00 for members and $35.00 for non-members if you have any questions contact Pete Petersen @ 648-8590 or Pancho Hernandez @ 733-1733.

Argentina.. In Argentina punctuality is not looked on as the great virtue that it is considered to be elsewhere in the world.

By Elliott Chaitt

The NAPM web site offers a wide selection of information, which could be valuable to the purchasing professional who wants to learn more about global sourcing. If you need to know about some specific aspect of dealing with foreign suppliers, or you are curious about the differences between domestic and off-shore procurement NAPM offers an excellent collection of articles and hot links to other sources dealing with global sourcing. Some of the articles describe the experiences of purchasing professionals involved in various phases of overseas sourcing.

If you have access to the Internet go to www.napm.org and click on Online guides, tools and links in the panel on the left of the screen. On the menu which will then appear click on NAPM Resource Guides. You will then see a page, which currently lists 16 resource guides, including Global Sourcing. A click on this heading will bring up a list of articles, products and other sources. There is no charge to NAPM members for access to the listed articles, which appeared in NAPM publications. Non-members are charged a fee to access the guide of their choice. It is suggested that you have your membership number handy when you go on-line, as you will be asked to enter it to access the guide.

Currently the guide lists ten articles, which appeared in Purchasing Todayâ or the Proceedings of the NAPM International Conferences. There are 16 articles from other sources which can be ordered by telephone; eight "products" including a dictionary of International Trade and a variety of guides covering cultural, legal, and regulatory matters. Also there are fifteen "other" resources listed which include publications available from the International Chamber of Commerce, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce and the U. S. Department of Commerce. Some of these resources are available for purchase while others are free or available from the Internet.

At the Universal Currency Converter web site (http://www.xe.net/currency/) you can perform interactive foreign exchange rate conversions directly on the Internet using the most current rates.

The Central Intelligence Agency publishes the "World Fact Book" which is a valuable resource for getting information about foreign countries. This source along with the "Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Government" and the "Handbook of International Economic Statistics" are available on the CIAwebsite http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/pubs.html) and can be searched by key word.

The National Technical Information Service (, Technology Administration, is an agency of the of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Their web site (www.ntis.gov) provides access to an extensive collection of over three million titles including business management studies, international marketing reports, materials and chemical science data, technical innovations and training tools.

Some of the information available through the NAPM Global Sourcing Guide might be useful to a supply management professional investigating global sourcing opportunities. The guide is only a few clicks away on the Internet.

AFFILIATE BRIEFS

Beginning in January 2001 the program for refunding of monies for passing C.P.M. modules will require the follows criteria be met.

1. The attendance of the NAPM-SA C.P.M. review class of the module being reimbursed.
2. The attendance of any (3) three-dinner meetings within that calendar year.
3. The passing of that module.

NAPM PROPOSED NAME CHANGE VOTE

In March of 2001 each dues paying member of NAPM will be requested to vote on the proposed name change. Last fall information on the name change was provided to you at the dinner meetings, in our Chicago Purchasor and on the Chicago Web site. Because of the importance of this proposal the Chicago Board of Directors has asked that the President and DNA of NAPM Chicago prepare a summary to assist the members. The reasons for and the benefits of the name change are adapted from previously published material from the national Tempe headquarters. The objections were drawn from your input.

This vote on the name change is the very first time that each dues paying member has a direct say in what the National Board of Directors implements for this association. Please Vote!!!

Objections to Name Change	Benefits of Name Change
Regarding the word Institute:	Regarding the word Institute:
Institute suggests a facility or place, a school not an organization.	Removing "National" implies no geographic limits
Institute suggests a standard setting or research organization not a professional association.	Institute connotes education, research, cutting edge activities and dissemination
There are too many 'Institutes'	Institute has international recognition and is in the title of 17 of the largest supply management associations around the world
Regarding 'Supply Management':	Regarding 'Supply Management':
Supply Management does not infer the capital equipment procurement process	"Supply management" enhances the strategic nature of the purchasing profession and the business environment
Supply Management by itself suggests material management and does not infer the procurement of services
Supply Management is associated and understood as transitory, expendable and short-lived
Supply Management is associated with transactional activities i.e. keeping it filled
Supply Management is a buzzword. Already value chain management is used in some management circles
Regarding Name Change Purpose	Regarding Name Change Purpose
Resources, effort and expense are better applied to a major marketing effort to remove the transactional nature associated with the word purchasing	'Purchasing' in the name limits acceptance because of its transactional perception
Build up the name, don't tear it down to build a new one	Purchasing does more than purchase
Demeans the work done to establish the name and credibility of NAPM	The new name positions the Association as a leader in strategic thinking
NAPM is not an educational institute; it is an association with an educational charter or purpose	Name change will most likely affect one or both of the certification programs
	The word 'National' in the name does not communicate the full spectrum of the opportunities and perspectives of the NAPM
Regarding Brand recognition:
The NAPM Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) is well-recognized by the financial community
NAPM is an established professional identity
Brand name, logo or image change, even by deep-pocketed organizations, is expensive, time-consuming and not typically successful
NAPM is familiar to employers including HR professionals
Why endanger the NAPM name and all it means with a prolonged extensive learning curve
Any change in the certification name will affect members' recognition

Summary

All the plans are still not in place but to give you as much time as possible, here's what we have in mind at this time

Name: _________________________Company ___________________________

Phone: __________________________Fax: ____________________________

Enclosed Check for $ __________________