AEM Establishes Purchasing/Supply Chain Council

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has added a new job-specific group to serve the needs of procurement professionals in the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. The AEM Purchasing/Supply Chain Council is geared toward purchasing directors, procurement managers, and buyers on both the manufacturer and supply side of the purchasing equation. It provides a forum to address industry-specific issues as well as share strategies and best practices.

AEM member companies decided to form the new association council as a result of a successful inaugural educational seminar held in 2005 and a follow-up session in May 2006. The council plans to conduct annual informational exchanges. Purchasing/supply chain issues of interest include outsourcing, commodities management (pricing and availability), and supplier/purchasing performance measurement.

Chairman of the AEM Purchasing/Supply Chain Council is James Tarabori, director N.A. Mining & Construction Products Global Purchasing Division for Caterpillar Inc., in Mossville, Ill.

"Purchasing department expenditures represent a substantial portion of the dollars that companies spend to produce and market products," said Chuck Frey, AEM's council manager for the group. "The purchasing function has taken on a more strategic role as companies deal with issues such as globalization, lean manufacturing and tighter production timetables."