Explain how to go from the Flow Matrix to Combined Flow Matrix.

Each day, units are transported among various departments (labelled A to E) in a factory, as shown below: Flow Matrix (units per day) A B C D E From A 3 1 9 4 B 3 4 3 7 C 7 6 27 D 5 8 0 3 E 22 9 4 The cost of moving one unit to an adjacent department is $7, and $3 for moving to each department after that. The present factory layout is as follows: B C D E (Although this factory is very long and narrow, it is still a job shop, not an assembly line.) You have just been asked to calculate the cost of the current solution and to propose a rearrangement of the departments that will reduce the material handling cost. Is your solution optimal