As of the end of 2019, Home Depot had 70 store locations inMichigan. Twenty-Nine (29) of these stores are in the GreaterDetroit area as shown in the map below. Estimated weekly loadrequirements (for goods to be shipped) in tons to each of thesestores as well as information about their locations are provided inTable P2. Ms. Beth Rodriguez has been hired as a Supply ChainManager for the Detroit and Ohio regions of Home Depot. She istasked with finding a suitable location for a warehouse that wouldserve these 29 stores. Answer the following questions assuming thatyou are in Beth’s position.

1) Based on the relevant calculations that take intoconsideration the locations of each of these stores and thetransportation loads, identify 4 potential cities where thiswarehouse should be located.

2) By considering other factors, which of these 4 citieswould you consider to be the best and why?

3) The basic notion of using the loads and locations is tofind a “central location” given that items are moved from thewarehouse to each of these locations separately. Can you think of abetter way to achieve the same goal? Please briefly explain withappropriate justification.

If Necessary, please use Excel and show steps!

Store Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Store Location 28 29 30 Not Applicable (Same as 2) Meyer Road, Detroit Mercury Drive, Dearborn Kelly Rd., Harper Woods Fairlane Drive, Allen Park Hoover Road, Warren Michigan Av. Dearborn Hts. E. 13 Mile Road, Roseville Penn. Street, Taylor W.12 Mile Rd. Madison Hts. Telegraph Rd., Taylor Southfield Rd., Southfield Middlebelt Road, Livonia Coolidge Highway, Troy Allen Road, Woodhaven Van Dyke Av., Stirling Hts. Ford Road, Canton Hall Road, Macomb 7 Mile Road, Northville N/Western Hwy., Farm. Hills Northpointe Blvd. Utica Michigan Avenue, Canton W. Avon Rd., Rochester Hills Five Mile Road, Plymouth 26 Mile Road, Shelby Twp. Gratiot Avenue, Chesterfield South Telegraph Rd., Pontiac Grand River Avenue, Novi Haggerty, Commerce Twp. Highland Road, Whitelake Note: Loads are in tons and distances are in miles Average Weekly Load to Store -- 86 70 62 36 62 74 60 68 57 52 55 52 49 94 67 44 40 46 59 69 86 41 54 64 49 81 59 48 89 Distance from Origin (East) -- 18 15.5 28 16 25.5 12.5 29.4 14.4 20.8 13.8 15.8 10.7 17 19.5 24 6 29.4 6 9.5 25.5 3.5 19 4 23.8 33 11.3 2 6 4.5 Distance from Origin (North) 12.5 9 14 6.3 15.8 7 17.5 3.2 17 4 16.5 11.3 18.5 0 19 8.3 22 13 17.5 22 6 23.8 10.5 25.5 24.5 21.9 16 18 23.5