A machine that produces a certain piece must be turned off by the operator after each piece is completed. The machine "coasts" for 15 seconds after it is turned off, thus preventing the operator from removing the piece quickly before producing the next piece. An engineer has suggested installing a brake that would reduce the coasting time to 3 seconds.
The machine produces 50,000 pieces a year. The time to produce one piece is 1 minute 45 seconds, excluding coasting time. The operator earns $9 an hour and other direct costs related to the operator are $5 an hour. The brake will require servicing every 507 hours of operation. It will take the operator 30 minutes to perform the necessary maintenance and will require $45 in parts and material. The brake is expected to last 7,500 hours of operation (with proper maintenance) and will have no salvage value.
How much could be spent for the brake if the Minimum Attractive Rate of Return is 10% compounded annually?