17. Six equal-size rectangular departments are to be placed in locations I through VI in the building sketched below. Aisles and corridors will be parallel to the exterior walls so that no diagonal travel will occur, and it is assumed that all travel will be from the center of one department to the center of another. For example, the following dis- tances (in feet) between locations are assumed: I to II = 80; I to III 60; I to IV = 8060 140; I to V = 60 +60120; and I to VI=80+60 +60 200. The cost. per unit of distance moved is the same for any move. Estimates of the average num- ber of trips per week between departments are provided in the table. = =

a. Make an initial assignment of departments A through F to the six locations so that it appears that the travel distance will be minimized.

b. Exchange the locations of departments E and D, and compute the net effect on the total move distance..

Weekly Number of Trips between Departments FROM TO A C E F A - B 30 C 50 D 70 E 80 2222 90 50 90 20 60 20 - 90 30 80 30 60 F 50 80 10 888 188 80 20 30 60 90 30 20 60 60 10 60 - 30 > 80 ft 80 ft- = - = 60 ft IV 60 ft VI 60 ft