Depending on what company or industry you work for, there will usually be one or two very important commodities that have the ability to affect the company strategically. For example, steel would be an important commodity for Ford Motor Company, sugar and cocoa would be an important commodity for Hershey, cotton would be an important commodity for The GAP, and copper would be an important commodity for Great Lakes Copper Inc.

There is no formula or checklist which can be followed in determining the information which a buyer needs for sound purchasing as it depends on the commodity or material. The challenging part of this assignment will be to conduct research, not only on the internet but in the library as well. You may be required to contact companies and suppliers for information.

Make reference to your various sources of information in your PowerPoint presentation. You will need to decide which information will be important to guide a purchasing agent or buyer of this material. Answer the following questions for Brose Canada Inc:

1. The intended use of the commodity and the various requirements to be met by the item purchased.
2. Identify the different forms of the product including the various characteristics, the different grades, classifications, and properties that distinguish one product from another. From the available products, one may be selected for a detailed investigation.
3. Define the technical terms that are used to specify and inspect the selected product.
4. Identify suppliers (both domestic and international) from which the product can be obtained.

Pick Brose Canada Inc. company and a commodity that the company would use in their manufacturing processes.