Nine work centers must be located in a square building (3x3 layout). The locations of centers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are fixed as shown in Table 4.7 (on page 140). Assuming that transportation costs are $1 per load per meter, develop a suitable layout that minimizes transportation costs using the given information. Compute the total cost. Assume that distances are 10 meters for adjacent departments/locations (e.g., A and B), 20 meters for nonadjacent departments/locations (e.g., A and C or A and E), and 30 meters for departments in opposite corners (i.e., A and I or G and C).

TABLE 4.7 Loads per Day 120 40 60 70 10 30 100 300 30 50 90 20 400 150 3 4 -604020015 30 250 140 250 150 20 10 -20080 120 130 40 60 30 20 40 30