A location analysis for Cook Controls, a small manufacturer of parts for high- technology cable systems, has been narrowed down to four locations. Cook will need to train assemblers, testers, and robotics maintainers in local training centers. Lori Cook, the president, has asked each potential site to offer training programs, tax breaks, and other industrial incentives. The critical factors, their weights, and the ratings for each location are shown in the following table. High scores represent favorable values.

a) Compute the composite (weighted average) rating for each location.

b) Which site would you choose?

c) Would you reach the same conclusion if the weights for operating cost and labor cost were reversed? Recomputed as necessary and explain.

Transcribed Image Text:

LOCATION AKRON, BILOXI, CARTHAGE DENVER, TX FACTOR WEIGHT OH MS 90 90 Labor availability .15 80 80 Technical school 95 quality 75 65 85 .10 Operating cost 30 80 85 95 85 Land and corstruction cost 60 70 .15 80 90 Industrial incentives 85 20 90 75 60 Labor cost .10 75 80 85 75