Wanna Network?

Suppose you have a problem with a particular commodity, that maybe is scarce or maybe you don’t feel comfortable with the input you have from your current suppliers. You know you can improve by researching the internet, but time is of the essence. What do you do?

You take advantage of your NAPM-Orange County membership and inquire of other members you suspect might have encountered or maybe even resolved the same difficulty. Easy for me to say, you say! Actually, it is easier than it has been. It involves utilizing our website and responding to two questions about your current position. Remember this is totally a volunteer project in response to our recent survey results, which will only be available to current members. All this information will be retained behind our “Members Only” wall. Let me explain.

For years both ISM’s and Orange County’s membership application have included a place to indicate the type of business your company is in. Technically, this could be considered a simplified Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) number. So that instead of around 10,000 four digit code numbers, you will be able to select from an abbreviated list of 83 three digit code numbers—easier to complete, but less comprehensive. These three digit codes follow the structure of the government’s SIC number system, so if indeed you know your SIC number it will probably be okay for you to enter it on your record (HERE). Doing this will enable you to contact other professionals who are involved in some way with commodities similar to those you deal with. This will be a new “search” blank on the Members Only screen, under Membership, where when you have entered the code you are looking for will return all the fellow members whose companies deal in those commodities. This function is operative now among members who have completed this portion of their membership application, if you didn’t you can go on-line and make your own personal changes.

Similarly, job titles can be helpful with this type of networking. These have not heretofore been included on our on-line membership database, since a percentage of new members neglect to include that information. Knowing the level of the person you are contacting will keep the nuisance factor to a minimum. Obviously, you would not want to disturb a Vice President or Director with commodity detail, nor would you ask an Assistant Buyer about managerial concerns. We are entering those known titles currently. You might want to check your own for accuracy, updates and if indeed it is there.

The website is ready for your input—so let the networking begin...
And in case you wondered, we are working on a full compilation and report of the recent survey, which should be available soon (more information).