Meile Machine$$ Shop, Inc., has a$1-$year contract for the production of $75$ comma $000$ gear housings for a new$$ off$-$road vehicle. Owner Laura Meile hopes the contract will be extended and the volume increased next year. Meile has developed costs for three alternatives. They$$ are: general$-$purpose equipment$($GPE$),$ flexible manufacturing system $($FMS$)$LOADING$...,$ and expensive but efficient dedicated machine$($DM$).$ The cost data$$ follow:

$$

$$General$-$Purpose Equipment$($GPE$)$

Flexible Manufacturing System$($FMS$)$

Dedicated Machine$($DM$)$

Annual contracted units

$75$ comma $000$

$75$ comma $000$

$75$ comma $000$

Annual fixed cost

$ $150$ comma $000$

$ $225$ comma $000$

$ $525$ comma $000$

Per unit variable cost

$ $16\mathrm{.}00$

$ $14\mathrm{.}75$

$ $13\mathrm{.}00$

Part $2$

Based on the total$$ cost$,$ the process that is best suited for the current contracted volume is