Location Decisions
A manufacturer of oak barrels has factories in the area at the location coordinates provided in the following table. Each coordinate unit represents approximately 10 miles. The yearly demand at each factory is also given below.
Factory Demand X-Coordinate Y-Coordinate
Manchester 14,000 80 60
Fayetteville 17,000 60 10
Columbia 5,000 30 90
Lawrenceburg 3,000 30 20
Management has decided to build the new factory to supply raw material to these factories. The location of new factory must be central to the existing factories.
Respond to the following in a Microsoft Excel worksheet:
• What must be the map coordinates of the new factory? Graph locations of the four factories and the proposed raw material factory.
• Is the location of proposed raw material factory where you expected it to be based on the coordinates of the other factories? Why or why not?
• What is the major contributing factor leading to the location of the proposed raw material factory?
Support your responses with examples.
Cite any sources used.