The plant shuts down for $2$ weeks in August $($this capacity is lost each year$),$ and all of the direct workers take vacation during the closure. The regular$-$time rate for workers is $$10/$hour$,$ and overtime is paid at time and a half.

The production manager said there were currently $50$ units in inventory. He also said that currently each worker produces an average of $25$ pumps in any given month. There are currently $20$ workers in the medium$-$size pump area.

$1.$ Develop three unique $($i$.$e$.,$ distinctly different$)$ Sales & Operations plans and include all relevant costs based on the information provided in the case. The decision regarding ending inventory is a managerial decision. You should determine the desired ending inventory, and justify your decision, for each plan.

$2.$ Which plan would you choose or recommend? Are there pros and cons beyond cost which you considered in your decision? What were they, and why were you concerned?