Help with Solver

[MBA STUDENT]

Back round:

I have to come up with a liners optimization model for ten factories that
can each produce one of three products. The stipulation is that only one
product can be made at each factory and we need to reach minimum production
units for all three products acroos all ten factories. Also there are a
maximum number of a product units that can be produced at each factory. Each
of the ten factories has differeing operation costs and profit margins so I
am looking to maximize profits across the board.

Problem.

I have come up with all the formulas for all the constraints, but I can’t
seem to come up with at formula that says that at Factory 1 which can only
produce a total of 100 units of either product A, B, and C. So that when you
produce 100 units of A then your produce 0 of B and 0 of C. Or any
combination Solver comes out with as being the one that maximizes profit
across all ten factories.

 

[Mike Middleton]

MBA STUDENT -

Browse to www.solver.com, click on Solutions | Production, and look at the
Alloc1 page for examples that might help. And, you can download an Excel
file for the Production Examples.

- Mike Middleton
http://www.DecisionToolworks.com
Decision Analysis Add-ins for Excel

 

[Dana DeLouis]

a formula that says that at Factory 1 which can only

produce a total of 100 units of either product A, B, and C. So that when
you
produce 100 units of A then your produce 0 of B and 0 of C.

Hi. One way is with Binary Constraints.
Three Product A,B,C. Adjacent to each cell, assign a Binary Constraint B1,
B2, & B3.
A Binary is 1 or 0. You may see these listed as Y1, Y2, ect in your
textbook.
You set a formula something like "Sumproduct ({A,B,C},{B1,B2,B3})
This is set to equal 100.
You add another constraint that B1+B2+B3 = 1.

Solver will eventually set only one of the Binary constraints to 1.