Appliances Inc. is preparing an aggregate production plan for washers for the next four months. The company's expected monthly demand is given below in the chart. The company will have $590$ washers in inventory at the beginning of the month and desires to maintain at least that number at the end of each month. Assume hiring and layoff$/$firing$,$ if necessary, occur at the beginning of the month. Below is other critical data:

Production cost per unit $=$$$354$

Inventory carrying cost per month per unit $=$$$59($based on ending month inventory$)$

Hiring cost per worker $=$$$1,180$

Firing cost per worker $=$$$2,360$

Beginning number of workers $=12$

DesictureClick here for the Excel Data File

Each worker can produce $118$ units per month.

a$.$ Given the planning information, develop a level production plan and a chase production plan. $($Leave no cells blank $-$ be certain to enter $"$O$"$ wherever required.$)$

$\backslash$table$[[,,,,,,],[\backslash$table$[[$Month$]],$Demand,$\backslash$table$[[$Regular$],[$Production$]],\backslash$table$[[$Ending$],[$Inventory$]],\backslash$table$[[$Workers$],[$Required$]],$Hire,Fire$],[1,5,310,,,,,],[2,7,906,,,,,],[3,4,012,,,,,],[4,9,204,,,,,],[$Tntal$,26\mathrm{.}432,,,,,]]$

$\backslash$table$[[$Chase Plan $-$ Variable Workforce$],[$Month$,$Demand,$\backslash$table$[[$Regular$],[$Production$]],\backslash$table$[[$Ending$],[$Inventory$]],\backslash$table$[[$Workers$],[$Required$]],$Hire,Fire$],[1,5,310,,,,,],[2,7,906,,,,,],[3,4,012,,,,,],[4,9,204,,,,,],[$Total$,26,432,,,,,]]$

b$.$ Determine the cost of the two plans.

$\backslash$table$[[$Total cost for level plan,$],[$Total cost for chase plan,$]]$