Question: Kaplan Computers manufactures high end computer systems for the graphics design industry. At the present time, the company makes three computers with the following characteristics:

Kaplan Computers manufactures high end computer systems for the graphics design industry. At the present time, the company makes three computers with the following characteristics:

Computer 1

Computer 2

Computer 3

Unit selling price

$12,000

$11,000

$10,000

Unit variable cost

7,000

8,500

8,000

The manufacture of the computers requires three major activities during their assembly. There is limited capacity for each resource. The following table shows the amount of each resource consumed by each computer and the capacity available of that resource.

Computer 1

Computer 2

Computer 3

Capacity

Resource A

3

4

6

24,000

Resource B

5

6

2

36,000

Resource C

8

3

2

32,000

Additional resources are available, but need to be purchased in 1,000 unit increments.

Part A

  1. Provide the Objective Function and the Constraints that you would use in Solver for Linear Programming.

  1. Assume that, for marketing purposes, Kaplan needs to manufacture at least 300 units of each product. Provide the Objective Function and the Constraints you would use in this second scenario in Solver.

Part B: Refer to the Answer Reports and the Sensitivity Reports to answer the following questions:

  1. What is the optimal production plan in Part 2?

  1. By how much would the contribution increase if an additional unit of Resource A became available?

  1. Refer to the situation as described in part 2. You can purchase extra units of Resources A, B and C as follows:

Amount Available

Cost per 1,000 units

Resource A

3,000

$22,000

Resource B

2,000

$250,000

Resource C

1,000

$625,000

How much of each resource should Kaplan acquire? By doing so, what is the incremental contribution that can be obtained? What quantity of each computer will now be made?

  1. In addition to the extra resources available as described in part4, a different supplier has offered to supply an additional 1,000 units of Resource C, at a cost of $750,000. Should Kaplan accept the offer or not? You must buy all 1,000 units or none at all. Provide quantitative support.

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