11.0 Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, students will be able to:

• Explain the importance of transportation models in optimizing the distribution of goods from multiple supply points to multiple demand points.
• Distinguish between balanced and unbalanced transportation problems and describe how to convert unbalanced models into balanced ones.
• Apply and compare initial feasible solution methods: North West Corner, Least Cost, and Vogel’s Approximation Method (VAM).
  Test for degeneracy in transportation models and understand its significance for optimization.
• Use the Stepping Stone and MODI (Modified Distribution) methods to find optimal solutions for transportation problems.
• Analyze and solve practical transportation problems to minimize total transportation cost while meeting supply and demand constraints.