Publication

National Publications Materials Management Review

Materials Management Review (MMR), is the Professional Journal for, of and by the Materials and Supply Chain Management Industry in India. It seeks to be the voice of the industry – and also the eyes, ears, and nose with in-depth coverage of the latest concepts, trends, interviews and opinions. MMR is arguably a very comprehensive journal in its field.

THE JOURNAL

The MMR is structured around five main sections. These sections aim to INFORM, APPLAUD, CREATE DIALOGUE, DEBATE, and EDUCATE. The MMR brings together the entire industry on a platform that enables sharing of thoughts, ideas, cases, best practices, concepts, and the latest happenings in the industry.

THE TEAM

The MMR debuted in January 2000. It is a monthly journal and is edited by the Sh. Lalit raj Meena, Chief Editor of MMR and Chairman-Board of Studies, IIMM. He is assisted by able team of Core Committee, Editors and of course production people of MMR. The journal is published from the Delhi NHQ of IIMM. The Core Committee and editorial board is as given under:

Chief Editor & Publisher

• P.M. Biddappa 
  National President

Core Committee

• V.K. Jain
  Formaer National President-IIMM
• O.P. Longia
  Former National President-IIMM

Desk Editor

• Jayanta Chakraborty
  National Councillor-IIMM
• S.N. Panigrahi
  Life member-IIMM,
  Corporate Trainer,
  Mentor and Author

National President:

• P.M. Biddappa
  pm.biddappa@yahoo.com

Editors:

• Rakesh Kumar Rastogi
  VP
  rkrastogi47@gmail.com
• Pankaj Panchbhai
  NS&T
  pankajpanchbhai@yahoo.co.uk
• Sandeep Singh Bhal
  VP Central
  sandeepsingbhal@yahoo.com
• Narendra V Joshi
  VP West
  NVJ@rediffmail.com
• Rajender Raj
  VP
  North-rajenderraj.1238@rediffmail.com
• P. Sengottaiyan
  VP
  South-senblore@gmail.com
• Pradip Kumar
  VP East
  kumarpradip1@gmail.com
• Lalit Raj Meena
  Past President
  meenalalitraj1@gmail.com
• (Dr.) Goutam Sengupta
  Rector- Techno India University, West Bengal
  goutamsenguptacbs@gmail.com
• Prof (Dr.) V K Gupta
  IMT Ghaziabad
  vkgupta@gmail.com
• (Dr.) K N Subramanya
  Principal, R V College of Engg.

MMR – UNIQUE, BINDING

The MMR is unique in many ways. Being read among the cream of the Indian Industry, the MMR also enjoys the patronage of the prestigious Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM). The members of the IIMM are unarguably some of the leading lights of the Indian Supply Chain Industry. It is also read by educational institutes, government bodies and institutes, and manufacturers across the nation. This journal is reaching every month to all the 10,000 members of IIMM and also to 40 countries of the world representing 42 professional bodies who are members of International Federation of Purchasing & Supply Management (IFPSM).

But what is more unique, is the methodology that MMR uses to put every issue together. In the words of the Chief Editor, M.K.Bhardwaj; “…our editorial team stays lean with just the right touch of zonal representation. Decentralization would be the name of the game. The decentralization will spread to many members and readers, such that this journal will be put together in all corners of India, and brought together between two covers through the powers of virtual integration – the web and the e-mail. Now. Isn’t this a microcosm of many ‘good
practices’?”

So, although the MMR is published from Delhi, it is more of a culmination of diligent contributions from members and readers across the length and breath of both -the country and the industry

LOOK WHO’S READING THE MMR!!!!

• Government bodies, large Indian Corporate houses
• Directors of PSU’s to the Heads of Materials departments in the large/medium/small organizations – the MMR speaks everyone’s language.
• MMR reaches from the MMR is reaching new destinations every day!

The annual subscription cost Rs. 1000. Send cheque or draft for Rs. 500 made in favor of IIMM, Mumbai and send it to IIMM Delhi Branch. to:

THE SUBSCRIPTIONS IN-CHARGE,
MATERIALS MANAGEMENT REVIEW,
Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM)
4598/12 B, FF, Ansari Road, Daryaganj,
New Delhi – 110 002.

mmr@iimm.org

Following is a list of some of the prestigious companies that subscribe to MMR. If you want to join this list, send in your subscription request today!!

Advertisement Opportunities in the MMR ADVERTISING TARIFFS FOR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT REVIEW
THE MAGAZINE OF INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

The MMR is also read by decision makers in the areas of purchases and Supply Chain Management. Educational institutions, govt. departments and members of IIMM get their personal copy of the journal. It is no exaggeration to say that the member base of IIMM is one of the most distinguished set of Supply Chain Management, Materials

If you would like to reach out to this target audience, with your product or service details, don’t miss this opportunity to advertise in the MMR.

NOTES

• MR would be happy to consider special rates for a bulk booking of 6 issues or more at one-time payment. These special rates will be considered only for full-page color advertisements. The rates for all other sizes remain same.

There are many other attractive schemes available to advertisers

• Special discount coupons from the advertiser can be inserted in the journal. Readers can use/redeem the coupons on advertiser’s product or at advertiser outlets.
• The advertiser can choose to sponsor any one of the regular columns in the MMR, such as Ecotalk, Brainteasers, Student Speak, Book Review etc.
• The advertiser can sponsor a single page ‘advertorial’ on his company or product.
• The advertiser can sponsor prizes for the ‘Brainteasers’ section
• Should the advertiser want any other form or type of advertising on the MMR, we are open to considering these requests.

For details/ interest in any of the above, as well as for advertisement bookings, please contact

M.K.Bhardwaj at iimmdelhimmr@gmail.com. Alternately, you can send in your cheque/ draft, along with advertisement positive and details of insertion to:

The Advertising In-charge,
Materials Management Review
Indian Institute of Material Management (IIMM)
4598/,12 B, FF, Ansari Road,
Daryaganj,
New Delhi – 110 002

International Publications IFPMM – (E-Business)

EDITORIAL – E-Business Procurement Marketing by Dr. Josef Vlcek

Gathering information, research and communication are the base of e-business. In the wide range of information channels on the Internet it is difficult to find the efficient information quickly. Therefore a systematically search via search engines is very important.

The following types of search engines are available

• Request-based Search Systems, Index Search Tools, Search Engines 
  Request-based search systems or search engines organize information by means of allocating them to keywords in a reference database. In other words, a register of keywords of all registered web sites is created.
• Menu-based Search Systems, Category Search Tools, Web Directories
  Menu-based search systems (web directories) structure information hierarchically according to categories and subcategories (themes), with a refined selection by the provider. Specific information is located by following the relevant path in the keyword hierarchy. An increasing number of search sites are now offering (index) search engines as well as (category) directories. If one search fails, the system switches to the other search tool.
• Meta search Systems
  Meta search systems are used like request-based search tools, however, they do not have their own databases. Instead, they link up to other search sites and provide the user with a complete list of search results found by these sites.
• Search bars
  The search bars in browsers are often mistakenly referred to as meta search tools. Search bars simply provide quick links to a collection of search sites. While the advantages are quick and easy access to the listed search sites via hyperlinks, the disadvantage is that each search site must be accessed individually for a separate search.

Platforms for specialist and sector-specific information

There already are a large number of providers which offer specialist, procurement- and purchasing-oriented information. They save the user the trouble of a comprehensive search for special topics or providers of trade pages, procurement home pages, supplier databases, virtual marketplaces or procurement software etc.

One example for helpful procurement information is: Net Market Makers: http://web.netmarketmakers.com (very good international links database, links to marketplaces, procurement software, auction software, but no description of the links)

Supplier and Customer Data Base Search Sites

In order to find new suppliers for the products required, purchasers can refer to trage pages which is usually free of charge. The trade pages mostly offer products when there is an actual demand, e.g. in case of overcapacities.

Much more professional and detailed information on certain products and suppliers can be found in numerous supplier and company databases. The purchaser can, against a set fee, search for specific suppliers or products.

Virtual marketplaces require a supplier/product database as basis for their service as well. Some e-marketplaces allow registered subscribers against a set fee access to their database. This is particularly attractive for users who are initially interested in using the Internet for procurement marketing only before possibly implementing e-procurement.

Example: Kompass: http://www.kompass.com (Business-to-Business Search: 23 million products from 70 countries)

Trade Boards and Trade Pages 

Trade pages and trade boards (also called Bulletin Board Services or Trade Leads) are highly efficient ways to invite tenders via the Internet and to attract the attention of potential suppliers world-wide. Just like traditional search engines they are based on a database in which both the suppliers can offer their products and customers can invite tenders. On most trade boards users can chose from a selection of industrial sectors, products and/or the role of the player (Buyer/Seller). The use of trade pages and placement of tenders is usually free of charge as the services are financed through advertisements.

Example

UNCTAD Trade Development Center This is the trade page of the United Nations which has set itself the objective of supporting electronic trading globally. When an invitation to tender is placed, it is passed on and distributed via a trade net that has been created within the UN. Today, this network links 135 so-called Trade points world-wide, nearly all Chambers of Commerce as well as seven million companies.

Procurement Home Pages of Purchasing Departments 

Having an own procurement home page offers the possibility to present the procuring company and required products in such a way that only those suppliers establish contacts with the department who are potentially capable of meeting the stipulated requirements.

This procurement marketing tool has been used intensively in the USA and Japan for quite a few years now and is becoming increasingly popular in large corporations in Europe as well.

Example
Nasa Procurement Office: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/ (The “Mother” of all procurement home pages; NASA handles all orders of up to 50,000 USD exclusively via this site).

Suitable products and services for e-procurement 
Direct goods Direct goods with a high level of strategic importance for the production process must be very carefully selected for e-procurement because a change of suppliers is related to the confidence of the supplier, the product quality and the logistic.

Indirect goods/MRO goods
These products are highly qualified for internet transactions. They are characterized by low cost per unit, small ordering quantities and frequent order placement. In addition MRO products are of low strategic importance and have a nearly world wide standard.

Services
Services can be ordered by Internet if they are standardized or exactly described. The description and definition costs necessarily time and is difficult. The standards are in development, only some are common. The content could be internationally different.

The outlook and expectation of e-procurement from two positions

The development of the portion of e-procurement in the purchasing departments depends on the strategy of the company, the qualification and education of the staff and on the extent of accepted standards of products and services. Finally the purchasing managers have trust in e-business and successful experience in e-procurement.