Consider a project to supply Detroit with 40,000 tons of machine screws annually for automobile production. You will need an initial $5,600,000 investment in threading equipment to get the project...

Consider a project to supply Detroit with 40,000 tons of machine screws annually for
automobile production. You will need an initial $5,600,000 investment in threading
equipment to get the project started; the project will last for 6 years. The accounting
department estimates that annual fixed costs will be $600,000 and that variable costs
should be $250 per ton. Further, the accounting department will depreciate the initial
fixed asset investment straight-line to zero over the 6-year project life and estimate a
salvage value of $450,000 after dismantling costs. The marketing department estimates
that the automakers will let the contract at a selling price of $340 per ton. The engineering
department estimates you will need an initial net working capital investment of $560,000.
You require a return of 13 percent and face a marginal tax rate of 24 percent on this
project.
Suppose you’re confident about your own projections, but you’re a little unsure about
Detroit’s actual machine screw requirements.
a. What is the sensitivity of the project OCF to changes in the quantity supplied?
b. What about the sensitivity of NPV to changes in quantity supplied?
c. Given the sensitivity number you calculated, is there some minimum level of
output below which you wouldn’t want to operate?