Network Solutions just introduced a new, fully automated manufacturing plant that produces 2,500 wireless routers per day with materials costs of $55 per router and no other costs. The average number of days a router is held in inventory before being sold is 54 days. In addition, they generally pay their suppliers in 29 days, while collecting from their customers after 16 days.
a. What is the cash conversion cycle?
b. What would happen to the cash conversion cycle if they could stretch their payments to suppliers from 29 days to 49 days?
c. How much would working capital be reduced if they stretched their payments to suppliers from 29 days to 49 days?