A company provides uniforms and uniform cleaning for its employees. Either one of two local vendors

Question

A company provides uniforms and uniform cleaning for its employees. Either one of two local vendors can provide the identical service. What economic criterion should be used in selecting a uniform provider?

Examoogle · Accepted Answer

Choose the service provider with the lower cost

Explanation: In engineering economics, when two alternatives offer identical service and quality, the primary criterion for selection is cost minimization. Since the service provided is identical, the 'do-nothing' alternative or qualitative benefits do not differentiate the options, making total cost the deciding factor.

Working Principle: The principle of 'Equivalent Alternatives' states that if two or more alternatives satisfy the functional requirements equally, the one with the lowest Net Present Value (NPV) or lowest annual cost is chosen. By minimizing the expenditure for the same output, the company maximizes its profitability without sacrificing operational efficacy.

Key Formulas: $TC = C_{fixed} + C_{variable}$ — Total cost equation where $TC$ represents the total expense of the service provider.

Key Points: Uniformity of service allows for direct price comparison.; Cost analysis in engineering economics often assumes rational decision-making.; If costs were equal, secondary factors like reliability or proximity would be considered.

Advantages: Ensures optimal allocation of firm resources.; Directly contributes to profit maximization.

Disadvantages: Ignores qualitative risks like vendor stability if only price is considered.; Risk of 'race to the bottom' in service quality if contracts are solely price-based.

Applications: Procurement of standardized industrial supplies.; Contracting utility and maintenance services.; Selecting logistics providers for bulk shipping.

Additional Info: In engineering economy, the 'identical service' clause is critical because it eliminates the need for complex Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods like AHP.. Option B is incorrect because higher service level would only be relevant if it created a quantifiable economic advantage (e.g., higher productivity).. Option C and D are economically irrational as they ignore the objective of profit maximization.

Answer: A is correct — When services are identical, the economic choice is to minimize the total expenditure.

Exam Tip: Always verify if the alternatives are truly 'identical' before applying pure cost minimization; if they differ in quality, perform a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) instead.

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