American International Automotive Industries $($AIAI$)$

manufactures engine, transmission, and chassis parts for

manufacturers and repair companies in the United States,

South America, Canada, Mexico, Asia, and Europe. The

company transports parts to its foreign markets by container ships. To serve its customers in South America and

Asia, AIAI has large warehouse and distribution centers.

In Europe, it ships into Hamburg and Gdansk, where it

has contracted with independent distribution companies

to deliver its products to customers throughout Europe.

However, AIAI has been displeased with a recent history of late deliveries and rough handling of its products.

For a time AIAI was not overly concerned because its

European market wasn$$t too big, and its European customers didn$$t complain. Plus, it had more pressing problems elsewhere. However, in the past few years, trade

barriers have fallen in Europe, and Eastern European

markets have opened up$.$ AIAI$$s European business has

expanded, as has new competition, and its customers

have become more demanding and quality conscious. As

a result, AIAI has initiated the selection process for the

site of a new European warehouse and distribution center.

Although it provides parts to a number of smaller truck

and auto maintenance and service centers in Europe, it

has seven major customers$$auto and truck manufacturers in Vienna, Leipzig, Budapest, Prague, Krakow,

Munich, and Frankfurt. Its customers have adopted

manufacturing processes requiring continuous replenishment of parts and materials.

AIAI$$s European headquarters is in Hamburg. The vice

president for construction and development in Dayton,

Ohio, has asked the Hamburg office to do a preliminary

site search based on proximity to customers and mileage. Each container is converted to a single tractor$-$trailer

truckload. The number of containers shipped annually to

each customer is as follows: Vienna, $160$; Leipzig, $100$;

Budapest, $180$; Prague, $210$; Krakow, $90$; Munich, $120$; and

Frankfurt, $50.$ When the vice president of construction in

Dayton received this information, he pulled out his map of

Europe and began to look for possible sites.

Assist AIAI with its site selection process in Europe.

Recommend a city site that minimizes the total annual

delivery mileage.