Optimization Solutions - Production Examples

This free Production Examples workbook contains seven example models from the area of production and manufacturing.  In nearly any browser, you can click the links below to display each worksheet model in the browser area.  Click the Back button to return to this page, or visit the Solver.com Home Page.

You can use the worksheet that most closely models your situation as a starting point.  Solving your real problem may require "scaling up" the model to include more variables and constraints -- but rest assured that you can solve your full-size problem with the power of our Excel Solver upgrades, even if it requires hundreds of thousands of variables!

To download and save the workbook, right-click Production Examples and select Save Target As... from the context menu.  You can then actually solve these small example models in Microsoft Excel, using either the standard Excel Solver or the Premium Solver or Premium Solver Platform.

• ProductMix - Product Mix:  Determine how many products of each type to assemble from certain parts to maximize profits while not exceeding available parts inventory
• Alloc1 and Alloc2 - Machine Allocation:  Allocate production of a product to different machines (with different capacities, startup cost and operating cost) to meet production target at minimum cost
• Blend1 and Blend2 - Blending:  Determine which raw materials from different sources to blend to produce a substance (limestone in these examples) with certain desired qualities at minimum cost
• Process - Process Selection - Decide which of several processes (with different speeds, costs, etc.) should be used to make a desired quantity of product in a certain amount of time, at minimum cost
• Cutstock - Cutting Stock:  Determine how to cut larger pieces (of wood, steel, etc.) into smaller pieces of desired sizes, each needed in certain quantities, in order to minimize waste

On each example worksheet, read the description at the bottom, then select Tools Solver... to examine the decision variables, constraints, and objective in the Solver Parameters dialog.  To find the optimal solution, click the Solve button.

We're here to help -- contact us if you'd like more information or advice on your application.

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