Improved methods of procurement such as framework deals, where clients bundle a lot of their work in large parcels, are damaging small civil engineering firms, according to a quarterly survey by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.
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Improved methods of procurement such as framework deals, where clients bundle a lot of their work in large parcels, are damaging small civil engineering firms, according to a quarterly survey by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.
Economic activity in the US manufacturing sector declined for the twelfth consecutive month, although the overall economy grew modestly during July, according to the latest purchasing managers' index from the National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM). Manufacturers continued to reduce payrolls and cut capital expenditure, the NAPM's monthly report noted.
Supply chain challenges in the construction industry will be tackled by a three-year research and development project at the Open University Business School and Reading Construction Forum. It will produce a framework for collaborative costing, performance measurement systems and a commercial arrangements toolkit to remove barriers to collaboration.
CyberSource Corporation, a provider of risk management and electronic payment solutions, has struck a deal to resell software from e-business security group Arcot Systems with its own solutions added. www.cybersource.com
E-procurement outsourcing company Tomorrow First has gone into voluntary liquidation. Its directors decided to pull the plug at a meeting on 5 October after the company failed to secure £5 million in new funding from investors.
Automotive firm Rudolph & Hellman Automotive Logistics (RHAL) will supply parts from two distribution centres for BMW’s new Mini Cooper and Mini One models, to be launched in July. RHAL lost a £45 million Land Rover contract after voicing fears that volume reductions would have made the deal unprofitable.