Meile Machine Shop, Inc., has a $1-$year contract to produce $200,000$ gear housings for a new off$-$

road vehicle. Owner Larry Meile 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:

Which process is best for this contract?