Swisher Systems is an industrial heating products company that was established in 1949. The company is an innovator of flexible heating products, especially with its knit and braided heating elements. This heating element is a multi-stranded resistance wire that is knit and braided with fiberglass and is the base technology for almost all of Swisher System’s products. Bill Simpson from the Engineering Department is distraught over a significant price increase for capacitors. Bill confronted the purchasing manager, Mike Watkins about the situation. Mike Watkins is the director of purchasing for Swisher Systems Corporation. Mr. Watkins is solely responsible for the purchasing activities throughout the company. Bill is expecting Mike to resolve the problems his staff are facing. As Todd Evans, the Summer purchasing intern, you are to address the following issues:

1. A thorough knowledge and critical analysis of the problem(s) identified in the case study expressed within a well-developed academic essay.

2. A critical review of the academic literature relevant to the problem(s) identified in the case study. This should be embedded in the discussion, not presented separately.

3. Appropriateness of evidence-based responses to the case study questions including an effective analysis of the situation along with relevant commentary on the issues of concern.

4. Application of SIX (6) relevant academic journal articles and appropriate reference to the prescribed textbook.

5. Clarity of expression/grammar and correct spelling using Australian English.

6. Strict conformity to referencing style as set out in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition (Refer to the Abridged Guide to APA Referencing Style).

7. Appropriate presentation in an essay format within a maximum 1500 words (+/-10%) (penalties apply for exceeding this limit).

Mr. Patton, vice president of purchasing for Code C, Inc., is concerned about a price increase from a Malaysian supplier. Last summer Code C was celebrating a 60 percent cost reduction based on replacing their major specialty steel supplier with Eastern Waves, in Kuantan, Malaysia. Eastern Wave is a small steel manufacturing company in Malaysia. It has several plants in Malaysia and China and produces various downstream steel products such as angle steel, I-beam, and round bar. The angle steel plant is located in Kuantan, Malaysia. The production method of the angle steel is called continuous rolling and the key raw material ingredient for angle steel production is billets. When operating at full efficiency, the annual capacity of the angle steel production is 10,000 MT. However, there are problems in relation to supply with the government’s trade barriers on billets. Furthermore, Eastern Waves difficulty in controlling their labour force makes it very difficult to adjust to the demand fluctuations of angled steel. Jon James is the director of global sourcing; he has been directed by the VP to resolve the issues of supply.  As the Director of Global Sourcing (DGS) students are to address the following issues:

1. As Jon James (DGS), write a critique analyzing the situation in Malaysia for Mr. Patton. What recommendations do you suggest?

2. How can Code C avoid future sourcing disruptions?

3. How should Code C critically analyze future global sourcing alternatives?

1. A thorough knowledge and critical analysis of the problem(s) identified in the case study expressed within a well-developed report.

2. Compelling expression of your evidence-based arguments. Appropriate and well structured, concise and clear expression of logistics management arguments.

3.Clear flow of thought throughout the business report, leading to key recommendations. Clear and succinct action plan.

4. Integration of relevant academic insights from at least EIGHT (8) relevant academic journal articles and appropriate reference to the prescribed textbook.

5. Clarity of expression, grammar, use of Australian-English, APA referencing, and in a Business Report format.

National Electric Power is a multinational energy company with a variety of energy assets. NEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and has a service area of approximately 197,500 square miles in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. In 2001, NEP had revenues of $61.3 billion and carried $47 billion in assets, making them the largest electricity generator in the United States.

Deon Houston, vice president for the National Electric Power (NEP) Commodity Trading Division, was in the process of producing her annual sourcing report for the company’s three-year plan. While NEP seems to have had success using the competitive bidding process, reverse auctions may be the way of the future. Mrs. Houston was wondering if the reverse auction sourcing approach would work for purchasing the company’s coal requirements.

As purchasing manager for NEP, draft an executive report and an action plan for the VP that addresses:

   1.  Your evaluation of the various alternatives open to Deon for the purchase of coal?

1. A thorough knowledge and critical analysis of the problem(s) identified in the case study expressed within a well-developed report.

2. Compelling expression of your evidence-based arguments. Appropriate and well structured, concise and clear expression of acquisition of commodities.

3.Clear flow of thought throughout the business report, leading to key recommendations. Clear and succinct action plan.

4. Integration of relevant academic insights from at least eight (8) relevant academic journal articles and appropriate reference to the prescribed textbook.

5. Clarity of expression, grammar, use of Australian-English, APA referencing, and in a Business Report format.