You have been hired by a small manufacturing company to be their first supply chain manager. Prior

to your hire, all supply chain decisions were made on an ad hoc basis. The company has done no

segmentation of suppliers.

a$.$ How would you source office supplies? Suggest a company that might be a good match for

these products?

b$.$ How would you source the general cleaning supplies and safety equipment required by your

employees? Suggest a company that might be a good match for these products?

c$.$ Until now, your inventory manager has contracted all transportation directly from various

trucking companies. This task is absorbing too much of her time. How would you suggest

sourcing trucks to preserve the time of managers to perform their primary functions?

d$.$ An engineering firm and their associated machine shop provide many custom components for

your products. Currently, your engineers send them CAD drawings; if the quote is acceptable,

the parts are made. Is there more potential for this relationship? How might your companies

unlock this potential?

e$.$ Where might there be the potential for the co$-$creation of value with the above engineering

firm?