Hickory Manufacturing Company forecasts the following demand for a product $($in thousands of units$)$ over the next five years.

Currently the manufacturer has seven machines that operate on a two$-$shift $($eight hours each$)$ basis. Twenty days per year are available for scheduled maintenance of

equipment with no process output. Assume there are $250$ workdays in a year. Each manufactured good takes $25$ minutes to produce.

a$.$ What is the effective capacity of the factory? Round your answer down to the nearest whole number.

units$/$year

b$.$ Given the five$-$year forecast, how much extra capacity is needed each year? Use a minus sign to enter an answer, if there is excess capacity. Round your answers to the

nearest whole number.

Year

$1$

$2$

$3$

$4$

$5$

Extra capacity needed $($units$)$

C$.$ Does the firm need to buy more machines? If so$,$ how many? When? If your answer is zero, enter $"0".$ Round your answers up to the nearest whole number.

Year

$1$

$2$

$3$

$4$

Additional machines needed