Horizon Computers manufactures laptops in Germany,
Belgium, and Italy. Because of high tariffs between
international trade groups, it is sometimes cheaper to
ship partially completed laptops to factories in Puerto
Rico, Mexico, and Panama and have them completed
before final shipment to U.S. distributors in Texas,
Virginia, and Ohio. The cost ($/unit) of the completed
laptops plus tariffs and shipment costs from the
European plants directly to the United States and
supply and demand are as follows:
U.S. Distributor
European
Plant
1.
Germany
2.
Belgium
3. Italy
Demand
(1,000s)
7. Texas 8. Virginia
9. Ohio
Supply
(1,000s)
$2,600
$1,900
$2,300
5.2
2,200
2,100
2,600
6.3
1,800
2.1
2,200
3.7
2,500
7.8
4.5
Alternatively, the unit costs of shipping partially
completed laptops to plants for finishing before sending
them to the United States are as follows:
Factory
European 4. Puerto
Plant
Rico
5. Mexico
1.
Germany
2.
Belgium
3. Italy
6.
Panama
$1,400
$1,200
$1,100
1,600
1,100
900
1,500
1,400
1,200
U.S. Distributor
Factory
4. Puerto
Rico
5. Mexico
6.
Panama
7. Texas 8. Virginia
9. Ohio
$800
$700
$900
600
900
800
700
1,100
1,200
Determine the optimal shipments of laptops that will
meet demand at the U.S. distributors at the minimum
total cost.
solution
Solution
(Linear Programming methodology and Solver add-in as the engine)
U.S. Distributor
European Plant
1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. Italy
Demand (1,000s)
7. Texas
8. Virginia
2.10
2.10
2.10
(0.00)
(0.00)
9. Ohio
3.70
5.20
5.20
Supply
(1,000s)
5.20
2.10
<=
<=
<=
7.80
cost
Factory
European Plant
4. Puerto Rico
1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. Italy
5. Mexico
6. Panama
-
(0.00)
6.30
(0.00)
6.30
(0.00)
6.30
(0.00)
<=
<=
<=
U.S. Distributor
Factory
7. Texas
4. Puerto Rico
5. Mexico
6. Panama
cost
8. Virginia
9. Ohio
3.70
3.70
=
2.10
2.60
2.60
`
6.30
=
3.70
7.80
cost
Total distribution cost (minimize)
total demand
2.10
=
2.10
total suply
5.20
6.30
2.10
3.70
=
7.80
<=
<=
<=
=
3.70
7.80
For more information and assistance contact Maxim Morozov
[Link]@[Link]
Tel +32 478 516447 (Belgium)
Costs
European Plant
5.20
6.30
4.50
1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. Italy
7. Texas
2,600
2200
1800
8. Virginia
1,900
2100
2200
9. Ohio
2,300
2600
2500
15,740
European Plant
5.20
6.30
4.50
1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. Italy
4. Puerto Rico
5. Mexico
6. Panama
1,400
1,600
1,500
1,200
1,100
1,400
1,100
900
1,200
7. Texas
8. Virginia
9. Ohio
800
600
900
700
800
700
900
1,100
1,200
5,670
Factory
4. Puerto Rico
5. Mexico
6. Panama
5,710
27,120
5.20
6.30
4.50