A description of each operating group is presented below. Further financial information by operating group is provided in Note 16 “Segment information” to the consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Design Chain Solutions Electronic Components Supply Chain Solutions Avnet Integrated 4 EC provides integrated solutions including technical design, integration and assembly of embedded products, systems and solutions primarily for industrial applications. EC also provides integrated solutions for intelligent and innovative embedded display solutions, including touch and passive displays. In addition, EC develops and produces standard board and industrial subsystems and application-specific devices that enable it to produce specialized systems tailored to specific customer requirements. EC serves OEMs that require embedded systems and solutions, including engineering, product prototyping, integration and other value-added services in the medical, telecommunications, industrial and digital editing markets. EC’s supply chain solutions provide support and logistical services to OEMs, EMS providers and electronic component manufacturers, enabling them to optimize supply chains on a local, regional or global basis. By combining internal competencies in global warehousing and logistics, information technology and asset management with its global footprint and extensive partner relationships, EC’s supply chain solutions provide for a deeper level of engagement with its customers. These customers can manage their supply chains to meet the demands of a competitive global environment without a commensurate investment in physical assets, systems and personnel. With supply chain planning tools and a variety of inventory management solutions, EC provides solutions that meet a customer’s just-in-time requirements and minimize risk in a variety of scenarios including lean manufacturing, demand flow and outsourcing. EC offers design chain support that provides engineers with a host of technical design solutions, which helps EC support a broad range of customers seeking complex products and technologies. With access to a suite of design tools and engineering support, customers can get product specifications along with evaluation kits and reference designs that enable a broad range of applications from any point in the design cycle. EC also offers engineering and technical resources deployed globally to support product design, bill of materials development, and technical education and training. By utilizing EC’s design chain support, customers can optimize their component selection and accelerate their time to market. EC’s extensive product line card provides customers access to a diverse range of products from a complete spectrum of electronic component manufacturers. EC serves a variety of markets ranging from automotive to medical to defense and aerospace. It offers an array of customer support options throughout the entire product lifecycle, including both turnkey and customized design, new product introduction, production, supply chain, logistics and post-sales services. Avnet’s EC operating group primarily supports high-volume customers. It markets, sells and distributes electronic components including semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical, or “IP&E,” components and other integrated components from the world’s leading electronic component manufacturers.