Which of the following uses transportation to minimize the total cost (transportation,inventory,information,and facility) while providing an appropriate level of responsiveness to the customer?

A) The shipper
B) The supplier
C) The manufacturer
D) The carrier

The shipper is responsible for arranging transportation of goods and minimizing the total cost while meeting customer demands. They also manage inventory levels and ensure timely delivery to customers, making them the best choice for this scenario. The supplier supplies the goods, the manufacturer produces them, and the carrier is responsible for physically transporting them.