Correct Answer: ATo determine the best location for manufacturing the product, we need to calculate the total cost for each location. The total cost includes material and labor cost per item, shipment cost to market, raw material shipment from source, and import duty per item. Given that the demand is 100,000 items per year, and the product weighs 1 lb per item, the total weight is 100,000 lbs or 1,000 hundred lbs (100 lb units). Therefore, the shipment costs to the market and raw material shipment costs should be multiplied by 1,000. Here are the calculations for each location:
1. Houston:
Material and labor cost: 100,000 * $7 = $700,000
Shipment to market: 1,000 * $5 = $5,000
Raw material shipment: 1,000 * $0 = $0
Import duty: 100,000 * $0 = $0
Total cost: $700,000 + $5,000 + $0 + $0 = $705,000
2. Taiwan:
Material and labor cost: 100,000 * $6 = $600,000
Shipment to market: 1,000 * $6 = $6,000
Raw material shipment: 1,000 * $2 = $2,000
Import duty: 100,000 * $2 = $200,000
Total cost: $600,000 + $6,000 + $2,000 + $200,000 = $808,000
3. Chicago:
Material and labor cost: 100,000 * $10 = $1,000,000
Shipment to market: 1,000 * $0 = $0
Raw material shipment: 1,000 * $1 = $1,000
Import duty: 100,000 * $0 = $0
Total cost: $1,000,000 + $0 + $1,000 + $0 = $1,001,000
4. Seattle:
Material and labor cost: 100,000 * $12 = $1,200,000
Shipment to market: 1,000 * $5 = $5,000
Raw material shipment: 1,000 * $1 = $1,000
Import duty: 100,000 * $0 = $0
Total cost: $1,200,000 + $5,000 + $1,000 + $0 = $1,206,000
Therefore, the least expensive option is Houston, with a total cost of $705,000.