Shoney Video concepts produces a line of video streaming servers that are linked to personal computers for storing movies. These devices have very fast access and large storage capacity.
Shoney is trying to determine a production plan for the next 12 months. The main criterion for this plan is that the employment level is to be held constant over the period. Shoney is continuing in its R&D efforts to develop new applications and prefers not to cause any adverse feelings with local workforce. For the same reason, all employees should put in full workweeks, even if that is not the lowest-cost alternative. The forcecast for the next 12 months is
Month Forecast Demand Month Forecast demand
January 600 July 200
February 800 August 200
March 900 September 300
April 600 October 700
May 400 November 800
June 300 December 900
Manufacturing cost is $200 per set, equally divided between materials and labor. Inventory storage cost is $5 per month. A shortage of sets results in lost sales and is estimated to cost an overall $20 per unit short.
The inventory on hand at the beginning of the planning period is 200 units. Ten labor hours are required per DVD player. The workday is eight hours.
Develop an aggregate production schedule for the year using a constant workforce. For simplicity, assume 22 working days each month except july, when the plant closes down for three weeks’ vacation( leaving seven working days). Assume that total production capacity is greater than or equal to total demand.
