Borges Machine Shop, Inc., has a $1-$year contract for the production of $225,000$ gear housings for a new off$-$road vehicle. Owner Luis

Borges hopes the contract will be extended and the volume increased next year. Borges has developed costs for three alternatives. They

are general$-$purpose equipment $($GPE$),$ flexible manufacturing system $($FMS$),$ and expensive, but efficient, dedicated machine $($DM$).$ The

cost data follow:

The option GPE is best when the contracted volume is below units $($enter your response as a whole number$).$