An Improved Tabular Technique for Presenting the Various Algorithms for Finding Initial Basic Feasible Solutions to Transportation Problems

John Usen Effiong, Ikpang Ikpang Nkereuwem

Abstract


The special structure of the transportation problem allows securing a non-artificial starting basic solution using one of the three methods: Northwest-corner Method, Least-cost Method and Vogel Approximation Method. The difference among the three methods is the “quality” of the starting basic solution they produce, in the sense that a good starting solution yields an optimal solution in a fewer number of iterations. In general, the Vogel Approximation Method yields the best starting basic solution, and the Northwest-corner Method yields the worst. However, the Northwest-corner Method involves the least computations. Extensive and critical examination regarding the usage and improvement of these methods abound in several publications with trivial consideration given to the development of a near-ideal technique for presenting these algorithms. This paper develops and implements an all-encompassing tabular technique for presenting the algorithms for these three methods.

Keywords: Transportation problem, Improved Tabular Technique, Initial Basic Feasible Solution


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ISSN (Paper)2224-5804 ISSN (Online)2225-0522

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