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PSA Peugeot Citroen has taken an equity stake in Covisint, and will join the automotive e-business exchange’s European advisory council when it is established later this year. Covisint claimed that a recent DaimlerChrysler auction was its largest to date. Five suppliers bid for the contract to supply 1,200 parts in an order worth $3 billion.

Everyone’s a Winner_3

The Industrial Society, £795

Warp Speed Branding_3

Agnieszka Winkler’s enthusiasm for the role of communications technology in business pours out of the chapters of this well-written book.

Warp Speed Branding takes you on a fast tour of management ideals, and what the Internet and other communication technologies can do to make business easier.

MoD abandons Archer_3

The Ministry of Defence has sacked Archer Communications Systems, the consortium producing the Bowman communications system that is eight years behind schedule. A new competition for the work has now been launched and the MoD has said that bidders incorporating the work already undertaken would be welcome.

Collaborative R & D_3

Collaboration between companies is a subject of considerable interest to buyers, especially in this era of strategic partnerships.

No poaching, please_3

Companies must train their own staff in strategic skills and not just poach from others, says Craig Lardner

China lures Kenwood_3

Purchasing staff are not at risk from kitchen appliance manufacturer Kenwood’s decision to close its plant in Havant, Hampshire, and source finished products from China.

John Bishop, Kenwood’s director of purchasing, said there would be no layoffs. He told SM: “Effectively, the procurement spend will be the same.”

Emotional evolution_3

David Freemantle argues that purchasing and supply chain decisions are inevitably emotional

Investment derailed_3

Industry groups have criticised Railtrack’s plans not to invest in freight operations for the next five years, after the organisation announced profits of £428 million last year and an increase in freight traffic of 18 per cent.

Tarmac goes greener_3

Tarmac, the construction and building materials group, has claimed that environmental concerns are now “entrenched”, following the publication of its independent environmental advisory panel’s annual report.

Neil MacKenzie, purchasing director at Tarmac Construction Services, told SM: “Environmental management is a key part of all our systems, and especially of our supply chain.”