A distribution company is considering two locations for the construction of a new automated warehouse: Chicago and Dallas. Two types of automation are also being considered: bar coding and RF/ID (radio-frequency identification). The annual operating costs for each type of automation at the two locations are:

	Bar Coding		RF/ID
Location	Fixed Cost	Variable Cost per 1,000 units	Fixed Cost	Variable Cost per 1,000 units
Chicago	$1,800,000	$12.30	$2,700,00	$9.70
Dallas	1,500,000	13.10	2,300,000	9.40

For what range of annual product volume handled would each location and type of automation be preferred?

Notes:

The point of indifference between two alternatives is the point at which the total costs are equal: TC _A = TC _B. The total cost of each alternative is: TC = FC +( VC * Q), where FC are the fixed costs, VC are the variable costs, and Q is some volume/quantity/units. Then the point of indifference would be:

FC _A + (VC _A * Q) = FC _B + (VC _B * Q). Plug the appropriate fixed and variable costs into the formula and solve for Q.

At Q, you are truly indifferent to the two options, so other information must be used to make the decision and that information is typically expected demand. For volume or demand between zero and Q, the option with the lowest fixed cost typically yield the lowest total costs (see Figure 4.10). For volume or demand that is greater than Q, then the option with the lowest variable cost typically yields the lowest total cost (the investment begins to payoff).

For Figure 4.10, comparing Processes A and C, we are indifferent at 15,000 units. For the preferred ranges of volume, we would prefer Process C from 0 to 15,000 units; we would prefer Process A for volume of 15,000 or more.