A manufacturing company operates four plants, located in Pittsburgh, Savannah, Kansas City, and Reno. Each plant has different capacities and production costs, as indicated in the following table:

Plant

Maximum Capacity

Production Costs per $1,000$ lbs

Pittsburgh

$750,000$

$$325$

Savannah

$900,000$

$$275$

Kansas City

$1,200,000$

$$305$

Reno

$1,030,000$

$$250$

The company has six customers, located in Rochester, Mobile, Indianapolis, Houston, Seattle, and Santa Clarita. Transportation cost between the plants and the various customers, as well as the demand from each customer, are indicated in the following table:

Transportation Costs per $1,000$ lbs

From$/$To

Rochester

Mobile

Indianapolis

Houston

Seattle

Santa Clarita

Pittsburgh

$$45$

$$52$

$$56$

$$62$

$$78$

$$85$

Savannah

$$55$

$$42$

$$58$

$$59$

$$80$

$$82$

Kansas City

$$57$

$$60$

$$50$

$$54$

$$65$

$$70$

Reno

$$72$

$$71$

$$67$

$$57$

$$52$

$$60$

Total Demand

$525,000$

$415,000$

$925,000$

$600,000$

$325,000$

$400,000$

Create a solver model and find the distribution plan that results in the lowest costs for the company to supply the customers$$ demand. Use MS Excel to formulate your solution and provide an electronic copy of your completed Excel file to the instructor.