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The Computers in Manufacturing Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham from 7-9 November will stage a programme to help firms profit from e-commerce. The programme is targeted at the UK’s top 500 manufacturers and will focus on the key e-commerce issues facing them. For more details, call 0870 7511556 or visit www.cimshow.co.uk.

Media agency selection_2

Q: I have just taken over as a buyer of marketing and advertising services. My boss has asked me to review the current agency roster with a view to minimising numbers and improving the quality of creative and account handling. I have only two months for t

Mergers made in heaven_2

While mergers and takeovers usually strike fear into the heart of purchasing staff, they can present valuable opportunities for procurement departments. Chris Swain, BP Amoco Exploration’s procurement manager, said: “A merger can be the best time to attract the top people from a merging company’s purchasing and other business functions.”

Cards keep users loyal_2

Supplying fuel cards to fleet purchasers ensures loyalty for at least two years, a Datamonitor survey has found.

Fuel cards, which operate as a credit card for fuel and enable fleet operators to monitor card usage, will rise from being used for 17 per cent of European fuel sales today to 26 per cent by 2008.

European Economic Area_2

Business airline plans_2

Virgin Atlantic Airways is proposing to establish an all-business class airline, Jetset Airlines. Chairman Sir Richard Branson said he was interested in covering transatlantic routes to destinations previously not catered for by Virgin, such as Philadelphia and Seattle. Branson is in talks with Bombardier, Boeing and Airbus Industrie to provide planes for the new airline.

Integration for Envera_2

US supply chain solutions provider Envera is to support the plastics and chemicals e-marketplace ChemConnect, following their recent merger. The combined product, Marketplace Plus, will offer clients a flexible and modular approach to the trade, according to the firms.

Rover buys IFS systems_2

E-business specialist IFS Applications is to provide car maker MG Rover’s Longbridge plant with systems for purchasing, accounts and human resources. It is also to supply a complete enterprise solution for BMW’s sheet metal pressing plant in Swindon.

Recycling fee scrapped_2

The Department of Trade and Industry has assured the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that Britain will not introduce legislation requiring carmakers to pay for recycling old vehicles ahead of Europe. The government had proposed implementing the “end of life” regulation next year. But the motor industry had argued that carmakers would have faced an extra £7.95 billion costs.

Boeing cuts production_2

Boeing is to halve its monthly production from 48 to 24 aircraft until the middle of 2002. The predicted output for this year is now 522 aircraft, which will fall to between 350 and 400 in 2002. Production is likely to fall to below 300 in 2003, a press conference in Germany heard.