You as Production Planner needs to provide a production plan for a five-month period (Feb through June). For periods February and March, your production should be as same as forecast. For the remaining periods, hiring is not allowed, meaning that the number of workers needed for March will be held constant through June. No overtime labor is allowed. If demand exceeds supply, then backorders occur in case there is no inventory available. The work force at the end of January 31 was 80 employees. You are given the following forecast: February, 83,600; March, 57,200; April, 87,200; May, 35,000; June, 79,400. Productivity is five units per worker hour, eight hours per day, 22 days per month. Beginning inventory is 30,000 units. Finance department provided you the following information related to costs: hiring cost is $60 per new worker; layoff cost is $80 per worker; inventory holding cost per unit per month is $15; every worker salary is $10 per hour. Find the total cost of this plan.

1. (15 points). Construct a production plan that shows forecast, planned production rates, inventory balances, number of employees needed, hires or fires.

2. (8 points). Evaluate the costs that will be incurred per period based on the information given from Finance department.

3. (4.5 points). What is the aggregate total cost for the five-period production plan?