. Using television receivers as an example, how could three different brands be perceived by different consumers as being the best quality brand in the market? . Why does the contemporary view of procurement as a strategic activity differ from the more traditional view of "purchasing?" . How can strategic procurement contribute to the quality of products produced by a manufacturing organization? . Explain the rationale underlying volume consolidation. What are the risks associated with using a single supplier for an item? . How does lowest TCO differ from lowest purchase price? . What is the underlying rationale that explains why firms should segment their purchase requirements? . Explain how constraints in manufacturing are interrelated with a company's decisions regarding volume and variety. . Why would a company's costs of manufacturing and procurement tend to increase as the firm changes from a MTP to a MTO strategy? Why would inventory costs tend to decrease? . How does a firm's marketing strategy impact its decisions regarding the appropriate manufacturing strategy. 10. Explain how logistics performance is crucial to a JIT philosophy