Top Reliability and Maintenance Web Sites on CD

Reliabilityweb.com has announced the Reliabilityweb.com 50 Top Reliability and Maintenance Web Sites on an interactive CD-ROM. Each web site included in the Top 50 contains valuable information relating to reliability or maintenance that can be accessed at any time for no fee. The Top 50 includes sites from the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The CD-ROM offers a guided and narrated tour of the best features of each web site through the use of hyperlinks that work with an Internet browser while a computer is online.

The CD-ROM may also be self directed by the viewer.

'We wanted a way to acknowledge web sites that teach without asking for anything in return.' states Terrence O'Hanlon, the executive producer of the program.

'The Internet is being used more frequently for research and these sites are all performing a valuable service.' The Reliabilityweb.com 50 Top Web Sites on CD-ROM is available for $49 and offers a 30 day total satisfaction guarantee.

New suite of buyer tools

First Index will launch new suite of buyer tools at Manufacturing Week 2001.
Reearch from First Index, the marketplace for custom manufactured components, shows that buyers see e-Sourcing, the ability to automate RFQs (request for quotes) and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) as key drivers of their online strategy. The research - among 180 buyers already posting RFQs in First Index's findFAST e- marketplace - was conducted as part of the development of a suite of web-based software aimed at the contract manufacturing market. The research and the product will debut at the Manufacturing Week exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham on 30 October.

Early research results Early results from the survey highlight four clear buyer requirements: * to pool buyer experience across large buying organisations via an organised, easy to use supplier database.

* to automate the RFQ process for existing and new parts combined with a way to facilitate online collaboration with suppliers throughout the RFQ process.

* to use online means to build long-term relationships with preferred suppliers that shortens product development lifecycles.

* to be able to evaluate supplier performance and ensure value for money in sourcing.

The research was conducted as part of the process of developing a new product, findFAST PRO, a web-based suite of e-Sourcing, RFQ automation and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools, that will be launched at the Manufacturing Week Exhibition, Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2001, National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Hall no 19.

First Index is on stand no.

9225 The suite is aimed at buyers who purchase made-to-order direct materials in, among others, the global automotive, aerospace and defence and electronics sectors.

It complements First Index's established findFAST e-marketplace solution which has over 2000 supplier members that benefited from the 28,000 RFQs posted in the last year.

First Index's Hans Wigart, CEO and David Oliver, will be speaking at Computers in Manufacturing (CIM), which is co-located (in halls 6 and 7 at the NEC) with Manufacturing Week.

Entitled 'E-procurement for buyers of direct services and custom manufactured parts' the seminar will take place on Thursday November 1, at 9.30am highlighting how working online can streamline relationships between buyers and sellers in the contract manufacturing sector.