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by Mary Brandel, Contributing Editor Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 11:07:00 AM   Small and mid-size manufacturers don't always have the budget to sign on with analyst and advisory firms. But they also don't often have the staff resources to perform services that research and advisory firms offer, such as vendor selection, vendor financial assessment, technology validation and keeping up with emerging technologies. "The price point for entry could be a barrier," agrees Rick Davis, senior manager for information services sourcing and administration at Valero Energy Corp., a $33 billion refiner based in San Antonio, TX "But in some ways, [smaller manufacturers] need these services more than we do." In the last year, Valero has increased its use of analyst resources because of its fast rate of growth through acquisition. That means less time for the IT staff to keep up with technology changes, Davis says. But even a large company like Valero is conscious of getting hard benefits for the money spent. Here's how Davis, like many other senior managers across Corporate America, uses industry analyst firms to:
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