A utility company with a power generation plant in Maryland uses maintenance, repair and operational supply (MRO) materials at an average rate of 1,200 lbs. each day (365 days/year). These MRO materials are supplied by a New York distributor at a cost of $10/lb. The utility company, employing an inventory holding cost rate of $0.2/S/year, takes possession of all purchased items after delivery and maintains a safety stock level of twice the usage during the supply lead time for these items. A 3PL provider (a trucking firm) has been chosen for transportation of these materials from New York to Maryland. The capabilities and shipping costs charged by this firm are outlied below: Full Truckload (TL) Rates: Large Truck: any load up to 60,000 lbs. at a fixed cost of $3,500 per shipment Small Truck: any load up to 40,000 lbs. at a fixed cost of $2,500 per shipment Less Than Truckload (LTL) Rate: $0.10/lb. with a minimum charge of $300/shipment for any load less than 40,000 lbs. Delivery Lead Times: 3 days for TL and 4 days for LTL shipments. Should the MRO materials be transported via TL or LTL shipments. What is the optimal shipping lot size and the resulting annual total relevant cost for the utility company? Do not
