You are the new Vice President of Logistics for the Great American Manufacturing Company, a major manufacturer of home appliances. You have not yet started your new job and are preparing for your first meeting with the department heads of your management team.

Background Information

• The company's headquarters and the food preparation cooking products production complex is in Jacksonville, Florida. The food refrigeration product production complex is in Louisville, KY, and the dish washer production complex is in Kinston, NC. The clothes cleaning (washer and dryer) production facility is in Chattanooga, TN. Each production complex has the capability to manufacture both consumer and professional product lines.
• The company purchases rolls of flat steel for manufacturing appliances from international sources. At present your major steel suppliers are in Japan and Korea. All suppliers' volumes are similar.
• The electronic modules used in the appliances are currently sourced from both domestic and international factories. Currently 3 companies in Japan (40%), Vietnam (15%), and South Korea (45%).
• Refrigeration unit compressors are sourced from three companies in Brazil (15%), Japan (45%), and Korea (40%).
• Rubber seals and gaskets are single sourced from a small supplier in Mexico.
• 60% of plastic pellets for extruding interior liners for refrigeration product are purchased domestically and 40% of the pellets are sourced on a regular basis from Indonesia. Supplier allocation is imposed when demand exceeds availability in the domestic market requiring international spot market purchase.
• All other hardware, nuts, bolts, and plastic parts are sourced both domestically and internationally.

This is a essay question.

Part A of Essay Question: Based on the information provided in Chapter 10 and your understanding of the textbook, please describe in detail what type of additional industry information you will want to research prior to your first meeting and what type, and level of information you will require your team to provide you during your first meeting.