In more recent years, management has pressured purchasers to explore sourcing from Mexico, China, India, and many other places in the world where labor rates are lower. Some of these strategies have succeeded in keeping firms competitive. However, because of variable currency exchange rates and other supply chain considerations, many of these efforts have not been as successful as once thought.

This presentation will first look at how the economic system got to where it is right now, and explore the new competitive factors which have changed and will continue to change the supply chain environment. The discussion will concentrate on major cost “drivers” such as labor, energy, commodity pricing, and innovation. Projections will be made based on current information about where the world economy is headed.

Brian is a past Associate Professor of Marketing at Western Michigan University. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA from Central Michigan University. Brian went on to Michigan State University where he received a Ph.D in marketing.

Dr. Long is the co-author of The Win-Win Negotiator, as well as, Common Sense Negotiation, which is a weekly publication aimed at business practitioners concerning how to improve their negotiation performance. Another newsletter, Smart Buying, is a bi-weekly publication targeted at improving purchasing performance.

Brian has been a NAPM member since 1976. In 1995, Dr. Long was presented the NAPM District 4 Homer Hauger Award for service. He has also been a member of APICS since 1984. Dr. Long is frequent speaker at dinner meetings, and has made many presentations at the NAPM International Purchasing Conference.