Linear Programming

Transportation Models
Chapter 6
(p244 – 297)
Introduction
• 3 special types of linear programming model
formulations are examined:
• Transportation
• Transshipment
• Assignment problems
• They are part of a larger class of linear
programming applications
• These solution approaches are variations of the
traditional simplex approaches to them
6.1. The Transportation Model
• Model is formulated for a class of problem with
the following unique characteristics
• A product is transported from a number of
sources to a number of destinations at the
minimum possible cost
• Each source is able to supply a fixed number of
units of the product, and each destination has a
fixed demand for the product
• Note: this model can also be applied to problems
not relating to transportation
• Transportation is the most common application
 … The Transportation Model
• Table 1 Table 2
Grain elevator Supply (tons) Mill Demand (tons)
1. Kansas City 150 1. Chicago 200
2. Omaha 175 2. St. Louis 100
3. Des Moines 275 3. Cincinnati 300
TOTAL 600 TOTAL 600

• Table 3
Mill
Grain elevator
A. Chicago B. St. Louis C. Cincinnati

1. Kansas City 6 8 10
2. Omaha 7 11 11
3. Des Moines 4 5 12
 … The Transportation Model
••  Linear programming model for this problem:
• Minimize
• subject to
… The Transportation Model
••  Linear programming model for this problem:
• Minimize
• subject to
6.3. The Transshipment Model
• Extension of the transportation model in which
intermediate transshipment points are added between the
sources and destinations
• An example of a transshipment point is a distribution centre or
warehouse located between plants and stores
• In a transshipment problem, items may be transported:
• From sources (through transshipment points) to destinations
• From one source to another
• From one transshipment point to another
• From one destination to another
• Directly from sources to destinations
• Some combination of these alternatives
... The Transshipment Model
• Farm
Grain elevator
3. Kansas City 4. Omaha 5. Des Moines

1. Nebraska $16 $10 $12

2. Colorado $15 $14 $17
… The Transshipment Model
• A: •  

• B:

• C: •
• [From
•
• D:
•
… The Transshipment Model
•  The complete linear programming model, including the
objective function, is:
• Minimize
• subject to
6.4. The Assignment Model
• Similar to the transportation model, with slight
differences
• Supply at each source and demand at each
destination is limited to 1 unit
Game Sites
Officials Raleigh Atlanta Durham Clemson

A 210 90 180 160

B 100 70 130 200
C 175 105 140 170
D 80 65 105 120
... The Assignment Model
•  Minimize
• subject to
Example Problem Solution (p263)
- Transportation problem -
Construction Site Supply
Plant A ($) B ($) C ($) (tons)
•  
1 8 5 6 120
2 15 10 12 80
3 3 9 10 80
Demand (tons) 150 70 100 280
• Minimize
• subject to
Homework
• Problems
• 1, 16, 30
• Optional: 52
• Case problems (p291 – 297)