I highly doubt Aberdeen really understands anything about true lower-middle market sourcing (from on-the-ground knowledge, in-person interviews, past experience, etc.). It is a differently animal entirely than sourcing in the Fortune 1000, and web-based surveying only creates a partial picture which may or may not be reflective of the real-world environment (for instance, I highly doubt that the sample that volunteered their information is reflective of the broader middle market). In my view, web based surveying in subjects where someone has no past domain expertise creates very misleading analysis. If you want to learn anything about the middle market direct materials sourcing, two resources I’d recommend are Mitch Free (MFG.com) and Lisa Reisman (my wife, from Aptium Global). Both live and breathe it everyday. Sure, I’m biased a bit (especially in the latter case). But I’d sooner put my good name on resources I trust.