CHAPTER 1

The Executive Workshop Kickoff

The executive workshop began with the exchange of usual pleasantries. Chris Thorpe and Tony Joysen of C-O-S-T, Inc. are meeting with the executive team of Defender Products, Inc. Defender has annual sales of just over $500 million and makes headlining systems for the automobile industry. It has five manufacturing plants in North America from which it produces 23 different headlining systems. The annual sales of the different headlining systems range from $10 million to $35 million. A typical headlining system will remain in production for three to four years after which the design and content may be changed by the automaker for a vehicle design update or complete redesign.

Chris and Tony are at Defender ...

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