Lands' End is a phone/mail/Internet-order retailer of outdoor clothes and shoes. Like other retailers, Lands' End's customer orders surge just before Christmas. Therefore, Lands' End requires more employees just before Christmas. Jobs include customer sales and service, warehouse operations, and seam-stressing.

The full-time equivalent (FIE) employee requirements for October to December of last year were as follows: October: 4,000 FIE; November: 6,600 Fl'E; and December: 7,100 FI'E. Lands' End employs 4,000 FIE employees throughout the year (3,500 full-time and 1,000 half-time). During November and December, Lands' End can employ up to 1,000 additional full-time temp workers (idle workers from local cheese factories) and up to 1,000 half-time high school students. Also, Lands' End can use up to 2,000 Fl'E of overtime per month using its permanent and year-round part-time workers (e.g., working 12-hour shifts instead of 8-hour month. Each FIE of overtime work receives $4,500 a month. Each FI'E temp employee also receives $3,000 a month, and each half-time student receives $1,500 per month. However, new employees require two to six hours of training. This is estimated to cost $300 on average, and is charged to the first month of employment.

a. Set up this problem as a planning problem and determine the minimum cost plan. Briefly state the trade-off analysis you used.

b. What factors, other than cost, should be considered? Explain.