Final answer:
To find the operating cash flow, calculate the net present value (NPV) of the cash flows associated with the purchase of the inventory management system. The NPV is $221,600.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the operating cash flow, we need to calculate the net present value (NPV) of the cash flows associated with the purchase of the inventory management system. The cash flows include the cost of the system, the tax savings, and the net working capital.
The cost of the system is $200,000.
The tax savings can be calculated by multiplying the inventory-related costs saved ($60,000) by the tax rate (39%). So, the tax savings is $23,400.
The net working capital freed up is $45,000.
The NPV of the cash flows can be calculated using the formula: NPV = Cost of the system - Tax savings + Net working capital
Substituting the values, NPV = $200,000 - $23,400 + $45,000 = $221,600.