.Strategic Procurement in Internet Time - May 15th

[Pittsburgh Business Community Calendar]

Strategic Leadership Forum - Pittsburgh - Program for May 15, 2001

Strategic Procurement in Internet Time 
============================
Margaret McGrath, Vice President, PPG Industries 
& 
Dale Prows, Vice President, NOVA Chemicals

If you have to deliver it faster -- you have to process it faster -- and 
therefore you have to get it faster. As we step through the supply chain, 
this acceleration affects every facet of the modern goods-producing 
corporation.  The agile corporation is a given or you are history. 

What are the strategic opportunities created by digitization of the 
procurement function, what are the solutions and why have they been 
selected?  Our speakers, from two of Pittsburgh's largest companies will 
review some of the highlights of the journey upon which they have embarked 
and some of the strategic decisions that have shaped procurement for them.

PPG Industries 
===============
PPG is a global manufacturer of coatings, fiberglass, glass and chemicals. 
On an annual basis, PPG purchases $4.5 billion in materials and services 
from thousands of suppliers. PPG's procurement function provides the 
company a competitive advantage through a relentless focus on lowest total 
cost of ownership.

Our speaker, Margaret McGrath, is Vice President, purchasing and 
distribution, of PPG Industries. She joined PPG in 1990 as assistant 
treasurer. Following two years as controller of PPG's coatings segment 
businesses, in 1994 she was named president of PPG Canada Inc., a PPG 
subsidiary based in Mississauga, Ontario, and PPG vice president of 
coatings in Canada.

NOVA Chemicals 
=============
With a background in world-wide SAP implementation and routine EDI use, 
NOVA Chemicals has sought to balance the opportunities and hype of IT and 
Internet developments against  fundamental economics.  Their e-commerce 
strategy focuses on: 
  Customer Care, 
  Extended Supply Chain, and 
  e-Procurement. 

Our speaker is Dale Prows, Vice President of Procurement Global Purchasing 
& Supply for NOVA Chemicals Corporation. He has responsibility for all 
purchasing activity at NOVA Chemicals excluding feedstocks and logistics 
representing a $700 million annually, primarily in North America and 
Europe.

Coordinates: Top of the Triangle; 600 Grant Street, Registration: 11:30 AM; 
Lunch 12:00 PM;  Speaker: 12:30 PM
Fee: Members $20; Non-Members $27; Students with ID $15
Online Registration: 
http://www.slf-pgh.org/registerformeeting3.htm
Phone Registration: 
412.363.5500 (x 223 if unattended)