NEWS BRIEFS

Supply Management, Sep 18, 2008

* 88% OF SMALL SUPPLIERS AWAIT PAYMENT

Many small suppliers do not receive payments within the contractually agreed period.

A study of 1,500 small firms by the Forum of Private Business found 88 per cent were not paid on time by their larger customers.

* CONSUMER PRESSURE UPS SUSTAINABILITY

Pressure from consumers is forcing businesses to implement sustainability schemes in their supply chains, according to Ernst & Young.

A survey of 275 business executives found customers were influencing the green supply chain strategy of 57 per cent of firms.

* AIRBUS INCREASES SAVINGS TARGET

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is to expand its savings plan to achieve a further euro650 million (£521 million) in cost reduction.

The initial efficiency plan, PowerS, called for annual savings of just over euro2 billion (£1.6 billion) by 2010. But the firm said it believed extra savings could be made by doing more engineering and manufacturing work in house and extending the current plan from 2010 to 2012.

* CEOs SHOULD RECOGNISE VALUE OF GREEN BUYING

CEOs should not underestimate the importance of sustainable procurement to their business.

A study into green purchasing by global consultancy Arthur D Little said three factors increasing exposure to risk, demand and expectation from shareholders and improving business performance - meant the CEO will ultimately be held accountable for their firm's green procurement performance.

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