A manufacturing firm in Saudi Arabia has four work centers arranged in the following order:

Plan A (Existing Layout).

WC 1 WC 2 WC 3 WC 4 40 m The number of workpieces moved between the four work centers are shown in the table below. The cost to move 1 work piece for 1 meter is Saudi Riyal 1.

Number of workpieces moved between the different work centers each day FROM/TO WC 1 WC 2 WC 3 WC 4 WC 1 — 600 400 700 WC 2 — — 600 200 WC 3 — — — 600 WC 4 — — — —

a) Compute the cost of the current layout. Assume that distance is computed from the center of each work center.

b) What is the cost of the layout if the firm decided to switch WC 2 with WC 4?

c) What is the cost of the layout if the firm decided to switch WC 1 with WC 2?

d) Which is the best layout? Why? lop52