29 December 2008
The washdry company manufactures several models of washers and dryers. The projected requirements over the next year for their automatic washers are:-
Current inventory is 100 units. The firms current capacity is 960 units per month. The average salary of production workers is $ 1200 per month. Each production worker accounts for 30 units per month. Overtime is paid at one and a half upto 20 % additional time. Additional labour can be hired for a training cost of $ 250, and existing workers can be laid off at a cost of $ 500. Any increase or decrease in production rate costs $ 5000 for tooling, set up and line charges. This does not apply, however to overtime. Inventory holding costs are $ 25 per unit per month. Back order cost $ 75 per unit short.
Determine two different production plans trying to minimise the cost of meeting next years requirements for:
1. Varying work force to meet demand. 2. Keeping work force constant.